THOUSAND OAKS — As the 2022-23 fall semester gets underway at California Lutheran University, new student enrollment numbers have nearly rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. About 844 undergraduate students are scheduled to enter Cal Lutheran for the first time this fall.…
The West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 55th Annual Camarillo Top Ten Community Awards, the city’s premier recognition event.
Winners were revealed during the Camarillo City Council meeting on August 24 by WVCBA Chair Dawn Simmons, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
The awards recognize businesses, organizations and individuals that are dedicated to enhancing Camarillo’s positive business and community environment. Nominations are submitted by the public to the WVCBA and winners are chosen by a selection committee.
VENTURA COUNTY SCORE: CYBERSECURITY-PROTECTING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
August 30 @ 10:30 am
Even small businesses are not immune from the cybersecurity epidemic. In fact, 60% of small businesses that are hit by a cyber-attack go out of business within six months. That said, there are many tools that are available to protect your small business, many are available in your current IT environment. During the first half of the webinar David will take you through some cybersecurity basics, conduct a demo of how a hack actually occurs, and then give you some tips that you can take back to your IT expert or IT vendor to make sure you are doing the right things in securing your business. David will then conduct a Q&A session to answer your most pressing questions.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
The Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) announces the replacement of the Bradley Road Bridge, beginning August 26th, 2022 until November 30th, 2022. The old bridge, built in 1930 will be replaced to bring the structure up to the current safety standards. The public can expect delays. Please avoid the area if possible.
In order to build the new bridge, Bradley Road will undergo the following:
8/26-9/2 – Single lanewill be closed either direction
9/6-11/8 – Full road closure
11/9-11/30 – Single lane will be closed either direction
The State has awarded the County of Ventura an additional $5.9 million in Homekey funds to expand Casa Pacifica Center for Children and Families’ Stepping Stones project in Camarillo in the County’s third Homekey award. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the awarded funding on August 24, 2022, as part of the statewide program, for the renovation of three existing buildings at Casa Pacifica to create 27 new units of transitional housing and high-quality support services for Transition Aged Youth (ages 18-24) who are experiencing homelessness or are at-risk of homelessness.
“This announcement marks great progress towards ending homelessness in Ventura County,” said Acting Chair of the Board of Supervisors Matt LaVere. “Thanks to these significant state funding opportunities that our County has pursued in collaboration with community partners, we can provide homes and supportive services to some of our most vulnerable residents more rapidly.”
Electric cars are the future of transportation, and the number of these vehicles on the road continues to grow. We want to make charging as effortless as possible and need the public’s help to identify opportunities to make it even better and easier to charge on the fly.
Here is one thing you can do to help make a difference in the fight against climate change.
Help us identify sites for more electric vehicle charging stations by leaving a comment or dropping a pin on this interactive online map, www.bit.ly/CCZEV
The goal is to identify ideal locations for NEW public charging stations in six California coastal counties between Ventura, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties.
The information gathered from the interactive online mapping tool will help create the Central Coast Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy, a tool to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles in this region.
More charging stations are needed to recharge vehicles, particularly in rural and traditionally underserved communities.
Learn more at www.centralcoastzevstrategy.com.
Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) announced that legislation to assist breweries with duplicative licensing requirements was signed by the Governor on Aug. 26.
“We are honored to have the support of Assemblymember Bennett’s team to update the current Business and Professions Code (Sec 25607) as it pertains to alcoholic beverages. Updating these regulatory laws (AB 1734) allows small Californian producers of beer and wine like Draughtsmen Aleworks the ability to sell the beverages we make at our satellite locations. We are excited to be able to offer all of our craft beers, wines and ciders at our taprooms in Goleta, Santa Barbara and soon Solvang,” said Tami Snow, Partner at Draughtsman Aleworks, “We appreciate the time and attention from Assemblymember Bennett’s staff reviewing and revising these alcohol regulatory laws in order to make them more equitable and easier to understand and to navigate. We and many small businesses like us in California are fortunate to have this type of support from our representative and we are excited that it allows us to grow all our businesses.”
Four CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students are traveling to different corners of the world to study during the 2022-23 academic year, thanks to the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.
This Fall, Art major Alejandra Torres, 20, is studying photography and traditional dance in Monterrey, Mexico while Performing Arts/Theater History double major Rae McQueen, 25, is off to the United Kingdom to study film.
In Spring of 2023, Biology major Joanna Carmelita Patagan, 19, will travel to South Korea to study biology and the Korean language and Business major/Spanish minor Itzel Tena Ortiz, 19, is off to immerse herself in the culture of Granada, Spain while studying business.
The Gilman Scholarship is targeted at students who might not otherwise get the opportunity to study in another country.
The news of Carmen’s demise was stunning, not too unlike when the shocking deaths of President Kennedy, Princess Diana, and Beatles icon John Lennon were announced. Carmen was a politician who was widely admired. She could be trusted, believed, and embraced as a friend.
By now, we all know the sad circumstances of her death. She was doing the kind of thing that so many of us do on a pleasant summer evening. She was walking to a concert that once again was enlivening downtown Oxnard after a pandemic pause. Unanimously elected to be the first Latina chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors earlier this year, she likely had plans in her head for improving the lives of county residents as she took that fateful step into the crosswalk.
As Metrolink’s Summer of Adventure winds down, travelers looking for deals can take advantage of the $10 Holiday Pass this Labor Day. Metrolink encourages everyone to take the train during the long holiday weekend to avoid traffic congestion, save on high gas prices, and to help the Southern California environment.
The $10 Holiday Pass provides unlimited rides throughout the Metrolink train system on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5. More information can be found here.
On Saturday and Sunday of the holiday weekend, riders can also save with Metrolink’s $10 Weekend Day Pass that provides unlimited rides throughout the system on the day of purchase. As always, kids 17 and under ride free on weekends with a paying adult. More information about the Weekend Day Pass can be found here.
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is pleased to announce the appointment of Jacquelyn Pawela-Crew, senior director of healthcare and life sciences consulting at Salesforce, as the organization’s new board president. The nonprofit has also appointed four new members to its Board of Directors: Hayley Fedders, Anu Sharma, April Simpson and Bianca Vega.
“Jacquelyn is a tremendous leader and we are so excited to have her serve as our new board president,” said Jamie Collins, executive director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. “We’re also thrilled to welcome an incredibly talented group of new members who are committed to our mission. Hayley, Anu, April and Bianca have diverse expertise in their respective fields and we know their support will help us advance our work in helping more girls reach their greatest potential.”
Our Online Fine Art Auction Fundraiser Closes Saturday, August 27, at 4 PM PDT
SPAM’S Twelfth Annual Fine Art Auction Fundraiser ends this weekend! The auction will close one item every minute starting at 4:00 PM PDT on Saturday, August 27.
Not sure where you’ll be when the auction closes? You can place an absentee max bid now! Simply enter the highest value you would wish to bid on an item and click “Place Bid.” Bidsquare will bid incrementally on your behalf according to our preset bid increments until your max bid has been surpassed.
The LNESC National Office would like to announce that the 2022 Washington Youth Leadership Seminar (WLYS) application is now available to qualified high school juniors and seniors!
The Washington Youth Leadership Seminar brings together 50+ aspiring high juniors and seniors from across the United States and Puerto Rico to focus on their own leadership development and encourage participants to apply these lessons back in their communities.
With the pandemic causing numerous mental health challenges, school starting again and life in general bringing plenty of stress, the need for psychological services continues to grow. And for many, finding quality services covered by insurance is no easy task. That’s why Lifespan: A Center for Family Psychological Services recently opened its doors with a goal of providing affordable mental health services — including psychological testing, therapy and neurofeedback — to meet a wide variety of community needs.
“We started Lifespan because we want to take care of our community,” said co-founder Beatrix Wagner, Psy.D. “By accepting insurance and offering several services under one roof, we make it affordable, quick and convenient for people to get access to the mental health support they need.”
Wilderness Youth Project (WYP), the leading nature connection organization in Santa Barbara County, is proud to announce the addition of Devon Azzam and Teresa Romero as Board Trustees.
With the addition of these two respected leaders, WYP is responding to our community’s increasing recognition that all children need nature. Their leadership will support WYP’s efforts to deepen opportunities for local youth to connect with nature.
Operating summer camps, an outdoor early childhood program, after school nature-based programs, and a subsidized program called “Bridge to Nature” in local low-income public schools and at community partner sites, WYP brings nature connection to more than a thousand children a year on a weekly basis, building on the fact that nature connection makes kids “smarter, healthier and happier.”
“Devon and Teresa both have impressive histories of working in their communities to provide access and support for environmental education and nature connection.” WYP Executive Director Dan Fontaine said. “Recruiting them to the board will help us serve local children even more fully.”
Stepping into a cocktail bar can be an intimidating experience for many people. Not so at Oak & Iron, a craft cocktail lounge in Thousand Oaks that prides itself on making high-end cocktails accessible and fun, said Director of Operations Oliver Clowes
The bar recently reopened after being forced to suspend on-site services during the pandemic and has since undergone a major redesign, including an updated floor plan, furniture, and décor. Now, Oak & Iron is back with a whole new look – and mission, Clowes said.
“We’re looking at how to produce liquid hospitality,” he said. “We look for the best spirit we can possibly put in our recipes, the best ingredients, the most creative combinations, all served with a smile. We want people to feel this is a place they can come and enjoy a great cocktail, but it doesn’t feel too pompous.”
Last night, the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) and California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) co-hosted a legislative awards ceremony to honor legislators who introduced and passed groundbreaking waste and toxics reduction and producer responsibility legislation in the 2021-2022 legislative session, sponsored by Atlantic Packaging and CPSC funders.
“The 2021 – 2022 legislative session has been the most productive yet for passing high-bar legislation to eliminate toxic and wasteful products, bring truth in recycling labeling, and ensure producers are responsible for the end-of-life impacts of their products” said Heidi Sanborn, Executive Director of NSAC, “We wanted to celebrate State Treasurer Fiona Ma who has been a champion for a Circular Economy for two decades and the legislative leaders and staff who worked so hard to make this very successful session a reality.”
The Yarrow Family YMCA (sevymca.org) hosted a free community BBQ and outdoor movie night for Conejo Valley families through its Adventure Guide and Trailblazer programs. More than 150 parents and kids attended the August 20 event.
“The welcome BBQ was a chance for families to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones as we embark on a fresh year of discovery, growth and fun,” says Tori Cusack, Youth and Family Program Director at the Yarrow Family YMCA.
Researchers identify a new class of drugs that offer a safer, more targeted treatment for leukemia patients.
Going Wild
Opening Reception
Saturday, August 27th from 3-5pm
at the Museum of Ventura County
Free
By the end of this month, nearly 130,000 students from all corners of Ventura County will have returned to class for the 2022-2023 school year. It’s hard to believe, but this is the fourth school year in a row to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is that we’ve come a long way from the days of remote learning and mandatory masking. This year, students will again be learning in person, masks will be optional, and most school activities will take place without restrictions.
In an effort to highlight the importance of high school choirs, Ventura County area high school students are being invited to audition this Fall for the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) University Chorus.
Auditions are currently underway for high school students, non-student members of the community along with CSUCI students, faculty, and staff for the 2022-2023 concert season. Inviting high school students to audition and participate in a university-level chorus is part of “Project: Lights On,” which is aimed at re-energizing high school choral singing by providing an opportunity for high school singers to perform with professional orchestras at major concerts.
“By doing so, we are creating a healthy feeder program for CSUCI’s music program while inspiring young artists to become contributors to their communities through the arts,” said Dean Butler, President of the Channel Islands Choral Association (CICA), which sponsors the University Choir as well as the Pleasant Valley School District Chorus.
“We are getting closer and closer to helping area high schools turn the lights back on in their choir rooms,” Butler said. “Walk onto many area high school campuses and ask to see their choir room and I think you will get some strange looks. Those rooms just don’t exist or have been converted into storage spaces.”
The California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its July 2022 report on Friday, Ventura County’s unemployment rate remaining unchanged from June to July at 3.2%, a bit off from our low of 2.7% in May, but still at an extraordinary low. The County benefitted from gains in several sectors—Construction, Manufacturing, Professional & Business Services, Private Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality and Other Services—but on net the gains were overshadowed by large declines in Farm, down by 2,800 jobs, and Public Education, down for summer break by 3,500 jobs. For more on the labor force and specific gains and losses in jobs, see below; for the July data, click here.
The County of Ventura Elections Office seeking citizen volunteers to serve on a Language Accessibility Advisory Committee Committee (LAAC) in Ventura County.
The next quarterly meeting will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. We will be conducting the meeting via the Zoom web conference platform. Attached is a flyer for you to share with your organizations.
Nyeland Promise was selected as Nonprofit of the Year by the West Ventura County Business Alliance. The Nyeland Promise Founders, Mike Barber and Mary Anne Rooney along with the volunteer corps, Comadres and Compadres were present at Heritage Square to accept their very hard and earned award for their dedication to serving the Nyeland Acres community.
Nyeland Promise was formed by, and is led by, the residents of Nyeland Acres in order to provide advocacy and resources to the community and improve the quality of life. Nyeland Acres is approximately 93% Hispanic and is considered a Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community.
Join us at the Museum of Ventura County for the…
Going Wild Opening Reception
on Saturday, August 27th from 3-5pm
Through prose and painting, we invite you to expand your relationship with nature through new perspectives. On-site and virtually.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF VENTURA COUNTY WEBINAR AND CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION: RECRUITING IN A POST-COVID WORLD
August 23 @ 10:00 am
Are you having a difficult time finding qualified people to hire back to work now that many COVID restrictions are easing up? This training shows how the pandemic has changed recruiting and gives you tips on how to market, interview and follow-up to get the best candidates to fill your job requirements.
The death of Carmen Ramirez: The tragic death this week of our dear friend, Carmen Ramirez has left many in the city of Oxnard, the county of Ventura, the state of California, the nation, and throughout world in pain, sorrow and shock. That’s how much this Chicano guerillera meant to all of us that knew her, worked with her, loved and admired her. Dr. Debbie DeVries, one of Carmen’s closest friends, speaking through the shock, the acute pain, and mental fog of the moment remarked to me that, “Carmen was the most caring, selfless, mindful, loving and kind person I have ever had the honor of knowing and working with. Carmen never made decisions based on political or personal self-interest aggrandizement.”
On Friday evening, August 12, 2022, we learned of the tragic loss of the Honorable Chair of the Board, District 5 Supervisor Carmen Ramirez. Supervisor Ramirez passed away Friday following injuries she sustained as a pedestrian hit by a vehicle in Oxnard. We extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, staff, and the communities she so admirably served. We honor her life and her historic and lasting contributions to the Oxnard and Ventura County community.
Carmen was a public servant in the truest sense of the term,” said District 1 Vice-Chair of the Board of Supervisors Matt LaVere. “Through her leadership and community engagement, thousands of lives were changed for the better. Carmen was one of a kind, and we will deeply miss her presence on the Board. It was an honor to call her a close friend and confidant.”
“Carmen was an incredible champion for the people and the environment,” said District 2 Supervisor Linda Parks. “What stood out when you met her was her compassion and kindness. What made her effective was her fearlessness, her clear moral compass, her intelligence and her always volunteering to do more. She was a true public servant and a best friend. We are so blessed to have had her in our lives.”
“Carmen Ramirez was a respected leader in our County and demonstrated this over and over again by providing pro-bono legal services to those in need and serving as an elected official for the residents of Oxnard,” said District 3 Supervisor Kelly Long. “Her passion for helping the underserved will never be forgotten and will undoubtedly be picked up by the many individuals she inspired along the way. May she rest in peace knowing she made a significant impact on the quality of life for many Ventura County residents.”
Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) has reached a mediated settlement with federal regulators on a 7-year-old dispute regarding disbursements of Medicaid funding to network providers for the benefit of the then-newly eligible adult expansion population resulting from the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Under the mediated settlement agreement, GCHP agreed to pay $17.2 million – about 24% of the total settlement – and enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with federal regulators.
The settlement reflects a compromise resolution of a multi-year disagreement between GCHP and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over the appropriate amount of disbursements to its providers under the Adult Expansion Program.
“Although Gold Coast Health Plan believes that its disbursements to providers under this program were lawful and proper, we agreed to participate in a mediation with the regulators to reach a settlement to prevent an expensive and protracted process,” said Nick Liguori, GCHP’s chief executive officer. “The settlement reflects a compromise that will finally and fully resolve this dispute.”
My three siblings and I grew up in Los Angeles next door to five cousins. But we are not your everyday cousins. We’re “special.” You see, we are “double cousins.” A bit of explanation is in order.
One of my mother’s sisters is their mother, and one of my father’s brothers is their father. To make this simpler, two sisters from the Rivas family married two brothers from the Magallanes family. We cousins all share the same four grandparents.
We cousins all played together and visited with each other daily. We shared our interests and some of our sorrows. Our parents are gone, and we are all now in our “golden years.” All nine of us today are well and thriving, to one degree or another. Having been raised by parents from the same families means that we understand each other like no one else in the whole world understands us.
California retired educator and longtime Oxnard School Board Member, Denis O’Leary will receive the International Latino Book Award. His book “Popol Vuh Stories for Children” is a finalist for the top prize in the category of Best Educational Children’s Picture Book – Bilingual in a ceremony at Los Angeles Community College on August 20, 2022.
Popol Vuh Stories for Children (published by Floricanto Press) is the first English, Spanish, and Yucatec Maya trilingual children version of The Popol Vuh. The Popol Vuh is the story of creation according to the Quiche Maya.
One weekend, two events for adults and kids alike!
National Honey Bee Day
Saturday, August 20th from 12-2pm at the Agriculture Museum
and
“Arty’s Amazing Accordion” by Amada Irma Pérez
Book Release Party
Sunday, August 21st from 2-4pm at the Museum of Ventura County
We hit another milestone this month…52 years of serving our communities! It all started for us, with a small group of concerned citizens and community leaders, wanting to address the lack of housing available to low-income and special-needs households.
And keeping to the same spirit of our origins, we remain today a community-based affordable housing developer and site-based services provider. Our formula for success continues to be connecting stakeholder input with local leadership direction, to formulate custom responses to address community need.
Since inception we have seen many cycles of economic challenge, changes of social issues of focus, and shifting political winds and priorities. Just like what we see around us today, these periods have included recessions, high interest rates, national inflation, and global conflicts. We weathered those conditions before, and will continue to do so as we are a dynamic team of highly talented and dedicated people, in positive relationship with local governance, supported by steadfast and resilient stakeholders.
Beginning Sept 1., 2022, the Channel Islands Maritime Museum will offer free admission to visitors who are less than eighteen years of age. (Youths or children must still be accompanied by an adult or guardian). Senior and active military admission prices will remain at $5.00/person and adult admission will change to $10.00/person. The Museum will also continue to offer its Museums for Alldiscounted admission for those patrons who present EBT, SNAP, or CalFresh identification cards.
“As part of our goal to provide improved access to all, including families with children, it was decided that the Museum would eliminate admission fees for those under 18 years of age,’ said Museum Executive Director Adri Howe. “We certainly hope it will allow for more families to come to CIMM and help them to enjoy and learn about the wonders of the maritime experience and human creativity. Museums play an important role in our society and we very much believe that future museum lovers are created when people have access to museums, especially as youngsters.”
Bid online now through Saturday, August 27, during the Santa Paula Art Museum’s Fine Art Auction Fundraiser. You could take home art by some of Ventura County’s leading historical and contemporary artists. (Check out the first 10 lots below!) All proceeds benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum.
PODS Moving & Storage Ventura County, has partnered with Cumulus Media & Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) to gather over 200 backpacks and extra Tools for Schools for children in Ventura County who need them most. BBBS are asking Ventura County community members to donate as many new backpacks as possible to exceed the 2022 goal.
“August 2022 will be an exciting time for our local children who are heading back to the classroom, but it can be a daunting time for parents when extra school supplies costs are on the rise,” said Steve Yapp, PODS Tri Counties owner. “We are always looking for ways that PODS Moving & Storage can make a difference in our community and there is no better way to support our youth than with their education.”
Donations of new backpacks can be made at any time before August 27th to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, 555 Airport Way, Suite D., Camarillo, CA 93012. Alternatively,you can visit https://www.khay.com/backpacks-for-big-brothers-big-sisters-2/ to donate.
Giving restaurant goers something new to “rave” about, On The Alley, otherwise referred to by the Bennett family owners as “OTA,” has recently expanded its restaurant portfolio by opening its third restaurant location at Ventura Harbor Village.
The more casual sister-venue to Brophy Bros. Restaurant & Clam Bar in Ventura Harbor Village, OTA boasts a modern interior, wonderful harbor view seating, outdoor patios, surf videos and photography artwork that showcases the local landscapes. This walk-up casual-friendly restaurant dishes up delicious, quick, quality fare, and diners enjoy wallet-friendly prices.
In 2021, SBCC composition and creative writing instructor Emma Trelles was named Poet Laureate for the City of Santa Barbara. This year, Trelles was selected as one of 22 poets in the United States to be recognized by the Academy of American Poets with a prestigious Poet Laureate Fellowship. As a Poet Laureate Fellow, Trelles will receive a $50,000 stipend to support her public work and craft.
Read the story in Noozhawk.
igh heat is expected! Consumers are urged to reduce energy use to protect the grid.
The California Independent System Operator (ISO) has issued a statewide Flex Alert, a call for voluntary electricity conservation, for today, Aug. 17, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., due to predicted high temperatures pushing up energy demand and tightening available power supplies. With above-normal temperatures in the forecast across much of the state tomorrow, the power grid operator is expecting an increase in electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use, and is calling for voluntary conservation steps to help balance supply and demand. Consumers are urged to conserve electricity, especially during the late afternoon and early evening, when the grid is most stressed due to higher demand and less solar energy. Reducing energy use during a Flex Alert can help stabilize the power grid during a time of tight supply conditions, and prevent further emergency measures, including power outages.
For information on Flex Alerts, and to get more electricity conservation tips, visit FlexAlert.org. Be sure to keep up to date with the National weather service.
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) in partnership with 2nd Story Associates hosted Tools for Schools Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Presidio Springs (721 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara 93101).
Now in its tenth year, the “Tools for School” event provided school supplies and backpacks for low-income children and families in the Santa Barbara area. During this event, HACSB youth and families received a FREE backpack, school supplies, and learned about valuable resources and services for them and their families.
Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIART) has announced Rachel Resnik Miles as the recipient of the 2022 Medici Award, the highest recognition presented by SCIART. Each year SCIART’s board of directors selects an honoree whose support has been exceptional and transformative for the organization. This year’s award will be presented as part of the annual Art à la Mode gala, Oct. 8, at the Los Posas Country Club, Camarillo. Art à la Mode celebrates the creative community of Studio Channel Islands and those who champion the arts in our county. Sponsorship opportunities, program tributes and ticket information are available at https://studiochannelislands.org/gala/
As part of its celebration for the upcoming exhibition Resilience: Art of the Channel Islands, the Channel Islands Maritime Museum is releasing a custom candle in celebration of these unique islands.
Featuring the beautiful Channel Islands artwork of Jody Hewgill, and named Channel Islands Breeze, the candle was created in collaboration with local candle crafting business Matte Black Candle Co. Using a coco soy wax, a new wild sage scent was also created for this unique candle.
Fifteen percent of the proceeds from the sale of the candle will be donated to the Friends of the Island Fox organization.
Ginger Salazar and Katina Zaninovich have been selected as the 79th Persons of the Year for the Santa Barbara area. The two will be honored for their volunteer contributions and service to the community at an in-person luncheon on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort Rotunda. Tickets go on sale Monday, August 15.
he Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) on Aug. 16 announced that Ryan Ortiz as the newest selection for the prestigious Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI).
Ryan Ortiz, CEDC Project Manager – Real Estate Development Department (REDD), helps develop and manage service-enriched, inclusive residential communities, ensuring access to affordable, secure, quality housing that creates the foundation for our residents to grow and thrive. REDD’s primary function is to complete the acquisition, finance, and pre-construction stages of affordable housing development.
The Inflation Reduction Act extends the increased financial help initially provided by the American Rescue Plan through the end of 2025. The increased subsidies expanded health care coverage, leading to record enrollment in California and across the nation, and lowered…
The City Center’s Year 2 fundraising drive is about to kick off. They must continue raising funds for The City Center to purchase their own home. Historically, 53% of their monthly costs were for rent, so buying the converted motel in downtown Ventura has been a big priority. Board member and longtime supporter of The City Center, John Exell, said, “The City Center program has proven success – we have seven years of no program graduates returning to homelessness, a testament to our unique program. Our program is difficult, with many tough goals set, but we provide mentoring and counseling to help our residents become self-sufficient and thrive”.
The Ventura County Building and Safety Division is updating the 2019 Ventura County Building Code to adopt and amend the 2022 California Building Codes. The County will hold two public workshops for community members to learn about the process and review these proposed amendments. The amendments being considered apply to the unincorporated areas of Ventura County and include important new changes for constructing and retrofitting structures in fire zones and new provisions for all-electric appliances and equipment in new construction.
The proposed requirements for construction in Fire Zones are intended to reduce the risk to existing buildings that were not constructed to meet the current standards to protect combustible buildings from flying embers during wildfires, which became effective in 2008. The new provisions also enhance fire protection measures for new construction to improve a building’s resistance to heat and flames produced by wildland fires on large undeveloped slopes.
VENTURA COUNTY — Our County mourns the loss of our Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Carmen Ramirez. Chair Ramirez was a pedestrian involved in a vehicle accident in Oxnard and passed away Friday evening, August 12, 2022. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, loved ones, and her City and County community. An additional statement will be forthcoming.
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CONDADO DE VENTURA – – Nuestro Condado lamenta la pérdida de nuestra presidenta de la Junta de Supervisores, Carmen Ramírez. Carmen Ramírez fue peatón involucrada en un accidente de automóvil en Oxnard y falleció viernes 12 de agosto de 2022 por la noche. Compartimos nuestro más sentido pésame a su familia, seres queridos y su comunidad de la ciudad y el condado. Próximamente publicaremos información adicional.
Community groups, organizations including Teatro de las Américas and Gold Coast Health Care Plan, pay tribute to long-time public servant and community leader.
OXNARD — With great sadness Oxnard Mayor John C. Zaragoza and the City Council join the community in mourning the loss of Supervisor Carmen Ramirez, who passed away Friday evening following injuries she sustained as a pedestrian involved in a vehicle collision.
Supervisor Ramirez, who served on the Oxnard City Council for ten years prior to being elected Ventura County’s District 5 Supervisor in 2020, was a fierce advocate for Oxnard and worked steadfastly to represent the diverse voices in her beloved City. Prior to being elected to the Council in 2010, she worked as a longtime legal aid attorney serving low-income communities in Ventura County.
Said Mayor Zaragoza, “I offer my sincere condolences to her husband, Roy Prince, and her family. We will miss Carmen tremendously. We worked together often, while I was serving as Supervisor and she was Oxnard’s Mayor Pro Tem, and this camaraderie continued when she was elected Supervisor and I served as Mayor. She was passionate about environmental justice and creating a better future for our City. Her kindness, love and deep compassion for the community was felt by everyone. She will be dearly missed.”
Having trouble viewing this email? Click here EDC AUGUST PARTNER WEBINAR SCHEDULE The Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our partner’s no-costwebinars. Space is limited. Register today! IN-PERSON EVENT: SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SCORE: BOOKKEEPING BASICS: TIPS AND…
“As seen in these three excerpts from our 2021 State of the Region report, Ventura County is making some progress getting to the transportation structure required to be a livable community, but there is much more that needs to be done”.
We ended our Livable Communities Newsletter in May with the statement above. This quarter, we decided to step back and look at bigger pictures of transportation that can inform Ventura County’s transportation planning.
Seeking this bigger picture took us to three mini-reports from recent editions of Public Square, a regularly scheduled Journal of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU). These reports provide a much bigger picture of what Ventura County needs to understand before we plan our next transportation improvements.
In order to GET THE FULL STORY you need to click the links for each article at the end of the introduction. The articles are short “easy reads” that you should find fascinating and energizing!
Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn announced the extension of the nomination period for the following City, School District and Special District offices that are scheduled to be voted on in the November 8, 2022 General Election. The extended nomination period will close on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. The extension does not apply to incumbents.
CITIES
The nomination period extension for City offices applies to the following:
Fillmore City Council (Full term, Short term)
Moorpark Mayor
Ojai City Council, District 1
San Buenaventura (Ventura) City Council, Districts 1 and 5
Santa Paula City Council
Simi Valley Mayor
Thousand Oaks City Council
Economic Development Collaborative is partnering with the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, the California Academy for Economic Development and Edison International to promote the statewide Outsmart Disaster campaign, which equips businesses with the tools and resources they need to be prepared for disaster. Here’s two ways you can take immediate action for your business:
Take the Resilient Business Challenge – a self-guided, five-step process to help your business become more resilient. CLICK HERE
Watch a recording of a Disaster Resiliency Clinic and receive a walkthrough of the basics of preparedness and the campaign’s Resilient Business Challenge. CLICK HERE
August is recognized nationwide as Child Support Awareness Month. August serves as a time to recognize and celebrate the vital role the child support program plays in promoting the safety and well-being of children. Statewide, California provides support services to one million children—helping families thrive and setting children up to succeed.
The Ventura County Department of Child Support Services (VCDCSS) recognizes that children are our community’s legacy and future. VCDCSS promotes children’s health and well-being by encouraging responsible parenting, understanding parental support, and involvement in children’s lives, which helps drive positive child development outcomes.
Nearly 20 years ago, I was on a pilgrimage. I went to France to trace some of the steps my father had taken during World War II. He went through this war-torn country before entering Germany and then Belgium to deal with the Nazis.
While in Paris, I visited several art museums. I will forever remember a sight that I will never see in an American art museum.
The Twelfth Annual Fine Art Auction Fundraiser
Preview Reception at SPAM’s Cole Creativity Center:
Saturday, August 13, 2022, from 4 PM to 6 PM
Free admission
Online bidding opens Saturday, August 13, and closes Saturday, August 27, 2022, at 4 PM PDT
The Santa Paula Art Museum’s Twelfth Annual Fine Art Auction Fundraiser starts Saturday, August 13! We’re kicking it off with a special, in-person preview reception at the Museum on Saturday, August 13, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Admission is free and reservations are not required.
All bidding will take place online on Bidsquare.com. Bidding opens Saturday, August 13, and closes Saturday, August 27, at 4:00 p.m. PDT. This year’s auction includes artworks by Jessie Arms Botke, Cornelis Botke, Douglas Shively, Manuel Valencia, Linda Brown, Lynn Hanson, Debra Holladay, Norman Kirk, George Lockwood, Lisa Skyheart Marshall, Gina Niebergall, Susan Petty, Gail Pidduck, Dan Schultz, Jules Smith, and Andrea Vargas. All proceeds benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum. Preregister to bid on Bidsquare today!
When she begins her senior year in the Fall, Performing Arts student Madison “Maddy” Hitchcock will be among the very first Dance Studies majors at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI). Hitchcock declared her major in Dance Studies in late Spring, as soon as she learned the Performing Arts program was offering the new major beginning in Fall 2022.
“I’m really, really excited about it,” Hitchcock said. “This is what I always wanted to study. I think so many dancers would benefit from being a part of this program because it isn’t specific to any age, body type or experience level.”
Previously, the University offered a Performing Arts major with a Dance emphasis, but this is the first Dance Studies major ever offered at CSUCI. And it won’t be your typical college Dance Studies major, according to Associate Professor of Performing Arts Heather Castillo, who has been a champion for the program along with Performing Arts/Dance Lecturers MiRi Park and Bonnie Lavin-Hughes.
“The degree is a global look at dance and how dance has always been a way to communicate and pass down our culture from generation to generation with the stories in our bodies,” Castillo said.
The City’s Community Relations Commission (CRC) announces that nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Community Recognition Awards Program. Since 1989 the CRC awards program has recognized deserving individuals and groups that have furthered human relations in the Oxnard community.
“We look forward to celebrating the individuals and organizations that represent the best of Oxnard – acceptance, courage, and a determination to highlight the good in our community,” said CRC Chair Adam Lopez.
The public is invited to nominate youth, seniors, individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations that have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in the Oxnard community.
The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, September 9, 2022 by 5 p.m.
Es un gran gusto compartir el video de nuestro montaje de Roma al final de la vida. Gracias a su autor, Daniel Serrano, por permitirnos publicar esta documentación.
It is a pleasure to share with you the video of Roma at the End of the Line at Teatro de las Américas. Thanks to the author of the play, Daniel Serrano for letting us make this video available to the public.
¡Disfrútenlo!
Enjoy!
Psychology professor Daniel Conroy-Beam has been named the recipient of the 2022-23 Plous Award.
kidSTREAM, a children’s museum based in Camarillo, continues to grow. While the organization is finalizing the work toward the slated expansion of the outdoor playscape on the property that the City of Camarillo is transferring to the nonprofit, key steps of growth are taking place within the organization, including board expansion.
Bryan Yee, Director of Knowledge Management at Amgen with 16 years of experience in the biotechnology industry, recently joined kidSTREAM’s board.
“Bryan has been a critical addition during an exhilarating time at kidSTREAM,” said kidSTREAM Board President Kristie Akl, “this next year will be a time of great growth, and all of the skills that Bryan brings – from project management to strategic planning – as well as the intangible qualities that Bryan brings to kidSTREAM from his genuine passion for this project and building community – are just the tip of the iceberg regarding adding Bryan to the team.”
National Honey Bee Day
Saturday, August 20th from 12-2pm
at the Agriculture Museum
Free
Join us for a celebration of our pollinator pals and their vital role! Volunteers will help kids and adults make their own craft honey bee out of pipe cleaners while beekeepers share fun facts and delicious honey samples. Take part in a bee-themed sing-and-dance-along too!
Also, welcome our new bee colony and browse bee-themed merchandise from local vendors. Check out the ‘Save the Pollinators’ art exhibit by C.R.E.W.’s Green Valley project, and explore our beautiful bee-friendly gardens.
Click here to learn more.
Make sure kids are up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines before the start of school! Children 5 and older are eligible for vaccine boosters. Learn more at https://schools.covid19.ca.gov/. For information about COVID-19 vaccines, testing and treatments, visit www.vcrecovers.org.
