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March 20 through May 16 — CLU to present Senior Art Exhibit explores bridges of time
March 21 — NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will hold an in-person meeting in Ventura
March 21 — Teatro de las Américas — Did you get your tickets to NOCHE DE PELÍCULA?
Booking your tickets for our upcoming events has never been easier! Visit our websitenow to quickly secure your seats for an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss out—book your tickets online today!
March 21 — District 2 Supervisorial Leadership & Excellence Awards
March 22 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art hosts launch of second novel by acclaimed author Sameer Pandya at Parallel Stories
March 23 — Museum of Ventura County to present ‘Nowruz—Persian New Year Celebration’
March 27 — CLU School of Management announces Accounting Association presenting — ‘Government Insights — Managing a billion dollar government agency’
March 27 — County of Ventura District 2 Supervisor Jeff Gorell — Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council to meet
The Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council will have their monthly meeting on March 27, 2025 at 7:00 pm at Oak Park High School.
Meeting information is available at the following links:
Draft Agenda
February Minutes
March 29 through May 30 — Oxnard Film Society presents special event — ‘We Remember’ in Camarillo
March 29; April 6; May 11, 31 — Mystic Whaler upcoming events
OXNARD — Mystic Whaler, the educational schooner, will be offering a Dockside Plankton Lab on March 29, 2025, from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. in Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard.
The public is invited to come and learn about these tiny plants and animals that live in and help support and feed The Ocean. Participants will have the chance to witness a plankton tow, view plankton under a microscope, and participate in a plankton craft. Space is limited and an RSVP is required for the Lab. Please go to https://www.centralcoastoceanadventures.org/upcoming-events to register. The Dockside Plankton Lab will be held on the dock located in front of 3900 Bluefin Circle in Oxnard.
March 29 — SEEAG’s ‘Farm Day Every Day’ tour of McGrath Family Farm
Through March 31 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum to present The Pastel Society of the Gold Coast Group Exhibition ‘The Living Ocean’
April 1 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents the 40th Anniversary Tour of Santa Barbara Favorite the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain at UCSB Campbell Hall
April 1 through 30 — Spring Events at The Collection 2025: updated with scheduled times
April 5 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma, Reflections in Words and Music at the Arlington Theatre
April 8 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents the sensational Circa with their next-level circus performance Humans 2.0 at the Lobero Theatre
April 16 — Community Environmental Council (CEC) in Santa Barbara to hold next Climates Stewards course
April 17 — Ventura County Taxpayers Foundation to present 2025 Taxpayer Economic Outlook Conference
April 17 — Cottage Heart & Vascular Center presents free virtual Meet the Doctor
April 17— Oxnard Film Society to present ‘NO OTHER LAND’
April 22 — UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Pete Buttigieg on Making Sense of the 2020s: What the Rest of This Decade Will Require From Leaders in Policy, Politics & Communications at the Arlington Theatre
April 25 — Ventura County Leadership Academy’s 30th Cohort to Host Trivia Night Fundraiser for Mountain Fire Relief
April 26 — People’s Self-Help Housing — Join us for the 2025 Builder Games!
April 26, 27 — Save the Date: Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival Returns to Alameda Park
SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is set to return to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., 2025. Now in its 55th year, the community-organized festival is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country and is one of the largest Earth Day festivals on the West Coast. Presented by the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and co-produced with longtime festival partner, CarpEvents, the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival continues to serve as a beacon for environmental advocacy and education.
May 17-18 — 39th Annual California Strawberry Festival to be held in Ventura
VENTURA — Tasty treats have a strawberry twist at the 39th Annual California Strawberry Festival, Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001).
May 21 — Save the Date: County of Ventura District 2 Supervisorial Leadership & Excellence Awards
May 30 — Save the Date — United Way of Ventura County to present ‘Women United Luncheon – Power of the Purse’
June 22 through Sept. 7 — The Santa Barbara Museum of Art presents Vian Sora: Outerworlds
June 29 — Kane Brown to appear at the Boots & Brews Country Music Festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds
July 19 — Tequila & Taco Music Festival to be held at Ventura County Fairgrounds
Sept. 23 — Farm Bureau of Ventura County to present 2025 Ventura County Agri-Tech Fair in Oxnard
Continuing — Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program presents Free Grief & Bereavement Support Groups
Bereavement counseling can offer the support you need to help you through your grief. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program offers both individual (one-on-one) counseling with trained bereavement counselors/therapists and group counseling.
All support groups are free for the community.
Continuing — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care Bereavement Class – Loss of Loved One
SANTA BARBARA — Continuing — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care Bereavement Class – Loss of Loved One. An ongoing support group held each month. Presented by Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care, Santa Barbara. Every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month, 2:00 –…
Continuing — Grupo de apoyo para el luto
VENTURA — El Programa de apoyo para el luto de Livingston brinda un espacio de apoyo gratuito en español cada jueves de 7 a 8pm en nuestra oficina de Ventura ubicada en 1996 Eastman Ave., Ste 101 (Sala de conferencia Harris) Ventura, CA 93003. Regístrese al 805-389-6870 o en nuestra página web www.lmvna.org/grief
El Programa de apoyo de luto también ofrece terapia de luto individual, familiar y de pareja en inglés y español. Para más información, visite nuestra página web LMVNA.org
Continuing — Camarillo Hospice offers Grief Support in Spanish
CAMARILLO — Camarillo Hospice, a Program of Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, is now offering individual, couple, and family counseling in Spanish for those grieving the death of a loved one, Camarillo Hospice offers a Spanish General Bereavement Groups for the…
Continuing — Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program to present Survivors of Suicide Loss Grief Support Group
If you have experienced the loss of a loved one due to suicide, do not hesitate to join our Survivors of Suicide Loss grief support group. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program are committed to maintaining an open, accepting, confidential atmosphere. All free of charge.
Survivors of Suicide Loss meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Continuing — Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program to present Children & Teens Grief Support Groups
VENTURA COUNTY — Many children and teens have experienced the death of a loved one, This is a difficult time for anyone grieving a loss. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program provides two free support groups, Good Grief Club (ages 6-10) and Young Teen Group (ages 11-15). These groups will run from October 5th through November 9th on Thursdays 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. For reservations, contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited.
Continuing — Bilingual report — United Parents provides variety of youth mental health, behavioral and/or emotional disorders programs and services
United Parents’ mission is to provide resources to empower, strengthen and support parents and other caregivers who have youth and/or children with mental health, behavioral, and/or emotional disorders.
Continuing — Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program to present new Men’s Grief Support Group
Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program announces a new Men’s Grief Support Group. The group is for men grieving the death of a loved one. It will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, via Zoom. If interested, please contact us at 805-389-6870. For more information, visit LMVNA.org
Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program support groups are committed to maintaining an open, accepting, confidential atmosphere. We also offer individual, couple, and family grief counseling in English and Spanish.
Continuing — Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice offering free monthly classes for those with Type 2 and Pre-Diabetes
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice offers free monthly classes for those with Type 2 and Pre-Diabetes. Learn about meal planning, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, medication management, and new developments for living with diabetes.
Continuing — Livingston’s Grief & Bereavement Program to present Free Grief & Bereavement Support for Children
Livingston’s Grief & Bereavement Program is offering a weekly Good Grief Club to children ages 6 – 11 who have lost a loved one. This session will focus on grief through cinematherapy. The club runs every Tuesday from 5:30 – 7pm through May 30th.
Continuing — Camarillo Hospice Announces Ongoing Support Groups
CAMARILLO — When a death occurs, we experience a variety of emotions and feelings that can make us feel as though we are navigating unfamiliar and challenging territory. We need support and although family and friends are important, they may…
Continuing Grief Support Groups at Livingston’s Camarillo Grief Center
CAMARILLO — Livingston’s Camarillo Grief Center is adding new grief support groups that cater to specific bereavement needs this coming January. These close-ended support groups are Adult Loss of Parent (February 6th through March 26th), Parent Loss of Child (March 7th through May 9th), and Adult Loss of Sibling (March 26th through May 7th). For reservations, contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited.
Continuing — Mental Wellness Center Community Wellness Program presents ‘Stronger Together,’ a bipolar & depression support group on Thursdays
SANTA BARBARA — The Mental Wellness Center Community Wellness Program presents Stronger Together, a bipolar & depression support group from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursdays.
This is a drop-in support group where you can find support in a safe and confidential setting. Family members are welcome!
To join, contact Elizabeth Imperato at wrapofsantabarbara@gmail.com
Continuing — Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice presenting Free Grief & Bereavement Support Groups
CAMARILLO — Bereavement counseling can offer the support you need to help you through your grief. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program offers both individual (one-on-one) counseling with trained bereavement counselors/therapists and group counseling.
All support groups are free for the community.
Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Last Chance to Make a Difference in 2024!
The clock is ticking! This is your last chance to donate in 2024 and support SBCFAN’s vital work to strengthen Santa Barbara County’s food system.
Every dollar counts, and your contribution goes directly toward building programs that empower our local food producers, tackle food inequity, and create a more resilient, sustainable future. With your help, we’ve already accomplished so much this year, and with your continued support, 2025 will be even brighter.
Ventura County Taxpayers Foundation — Taxpayers – You Can Make An Immediate Impact TODAY
We had a tremendous year in 2024, achieving significant victories for taxpayers like you. Yet, despite our successes, there is more work to do to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency in our local government. We’re calling on you for your financial support to continue this vital work.
In 2024, we made a real difference:
Amigos805 taking a break for the holiday season
Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday Season.
Amigos805.com will be taking a holiday vacation, off Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 and returning to work Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Please submit all your news and events by 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 for the last newsletter of the year.
CSUCI staff member/alumna plays young Jenni Rivera in a major motion picture about the superstar’s life
CAMARILLO — A CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) alumna and current employee is appearing in a major motion picture about music superstar Jenni Rivera, who succeeded in the male-dominated world of banda, mariachi, and norteñogenres of regional Mexican music.
STEM Transfer Outreach Coordinator Tatiana Juarez, who graduated with a degree in Health Science, plays young Jenni Rivera in the movie “Jenni,” which was released Friday, Dec. 6 in select theaters and on a bilingual streaming service called ViX.
Juarez, who is part of the first generation in her family to earn a college degree, was born in Ventura and raised in Oxnard. Her parents grew up in the U.S. after being brought here from Mexico as children. Juarez’s mom works as a medical clerk and her dad works a variety of jobs related to construction and architecture.
Bilingual report — Mayor Pedro Chavez and Vice Mayor Carlos Juarez Assume Prominent Roles in Santa Paula City Council
SANTA PAULA — In a ceremonial meeting held on the evening of Dec. 11, 2024, the City of Santa Paula celebrated the appointment of Pedro Chavez as the City’s 123rd Mayor and Carlos Juarez as Vice Mayor. The meeting also marked the swearing-in of newly elected Councilmember Gabriela Ornelas, the election of Councilmember and former Mayor, Leslie Cornejo, and a heartfelt recognition of outgoing Councilmember and former Mayor Andy Sobel for his six years of dedicated service.
Well-known for his service to the city and his ties to the community, Mayor Chavez, who was appointed Vice Mayor in 2023, expressed his gratitude and vision for the future:
“Thank you to the People of Santa Paula for allowing me to serve as a Member of the Santa Paula City Council these past two years and my sincerest gratitude to my Council colleagues for electing me as the 123rd Mayor of this extraordinary City. My leadership, skills, and talents are built upon the foundation of thirty years of experience working in both the public and private sector and my journey as an immigrant in search of the American dream, so I’m deeply honored – as a public servant – to work collectively to revitalize Santa Paula and build its future through shared governance and community engagement.”
Bilingual commentary — The Devastating Costs of Mass Deportations
One of the factors that swept Donald Trump back into power and onto the world stage was his inexhaustible and malicious exaggeration of the “immigrant problem.” Images of immigrants eating pets and walking into kitchens and slitting our throats danced in his supporters’ heads as they marked their ballots last month.
Many of us realize, intuitively, that “mass deportation” of “all the illegals” is hardly possible without great damage to the American economy and to our personal lives.
Not wanting to rely on my “intuition,” I searched online for some hard numbers. The information I uncovered was shocking. A “special report” by the American Immigration Council (AIC) laid out the devastating consequences of such a massive operation.
Guest contribution — American Immigration Council — This Week in Immigration
Biden makes critical last-minute change to help combat USCIS backlogs. More options available. Immigrant farmworkers make our holiday meals possible
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President Biden has just over one month left in office. He can still take decisive action to protect people at risk of indiscriminate immigration enforcement.
Among other priorities, the Council encourages the administration to protect DACA recipients; extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status for certain countries; and rescind remaining Trump-era immigration regulations.
Read more: Urgent Last Requests for the Biden Administration
Bilingual report — Kaiser Permanente: Feeling Stressed This Holiday Season? You’re Not Alone
There’s a common perception that the holiday season is a time for joy and happiness. After all, as the saying goes, ‘It’s the best time of the year.’
But for many people, the holidays actually present themselves to be a very stressful time that may cause anxiety and depression for a variety of reasons.
“Feeling lonely and stressed during the holidays is a common experience for many,” said Dr. Neel Doshi, a psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “The stress is often triggered by factors like the absence of loved ones, social isolation, unmet expectations around the festive season, comparisons to idealized holiday portrayals, and the added pressure of family gatherings and gift-giving.
State announces new rule requiring advance notice of agricultural pesticide use
“We’ve been fighting for better protections from hazardous pesticides for many years, including the simple right to know about planned chemical use in our neighborhoods,” said Noemi Chico, a teacher’s assistant in Salinas. “California has taken a step in the right direction, but what we really need to know is whether an application is planned for next door or a mile across town.”
CSUCI students promote cutting-edge High Performance Computing with national competitions and a campus club
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students and their mentors are preparing for the world of big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) by learning and sharing all they can about High-Performance Computing or HPC.
HPC is a way of combining a network of computers to create a more powerful system designed to handle data or problems too big for one computer. There’s a growing demand for expertise in HPC, given the rise of AI, machine learning and data-intensive tasks across various industries like scientific research, finance, and healthcare. Job growth for HPC is expected to be significantly faster than the average for all occupations.
Social Justice Fund for Ventura County — Did You Know ….
SJFVC is more than meets the eye …
“We didn’t realize how much the Social Justice Fund Board and Staff does for the Fellows – it’s more than just grants; it’s a recipe to cultivate leaders consisting of mentorship, coaching, business skills education and support.” ~ Meenal and Kris Kelkar, longtime donors.
Bilingual report — Santa Barbara farming family dedicates lands to support recovery of iconic endangered Gaviota Coast plant
SANTA BARBARA — When the Harris family’s real estate agent unexpectedly disclosed the presence of Gaviota tarplant, a federally endangered plant, on the property of their potential dream farm back in 2021, they had to make a choice: should they look elsewhere or embrace it?
“Part of me thought it was pretty scary having an endangered species on the property, but then the other part of me thought about how exciting it was,” said Craig Harris, as he recounted the important decision he and his wife, Aira, had to make about whether or not to move forward with the purchase of the property north of Arroyo Hondo Creek off U.S. Highway 101. “In the end, we embraced the journey and said, alright, let’s do this.”
Assemblymember Irwin receives ‘Policy Legacy Award’ from The Campaign for College Opportunity
“In this milestone year, we are honored to celebrate those who have shared our vision of achieving student-centered transformation in higher education. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin is one of these fearless leaders,” said Jessie Ryan, president of the Campaign for College Opportunity. “Assemblymember Irwin has stood courageously to end exclusionary remedial course placement practices that were derailing the college dreams of many community college students. She has held the line over the past decade to close equity gaps, ensuring that all students have access and succeed in the transfer-level courses that support their college dreams.”
Ventura County realtors providing grants to Mountain Fire victims
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County residents affected by the Mountain Fire are eligible to apply for grants of up to $1,000, the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors (VCCAR) announced on Dec. 19. The funds are part of a $125,000…
UCSB — The Current — ‘Season’s greetings from our home to yours’
Wishing you gorgeous sunsets and bright horizons
Before signing off for the year, check out our Most Viewed Stories of 2024. Then meet us right back here on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, when The Current will return to your inbox with more research news, features and exciting UC Santa Barbara content.
SBCC Celebrates a Year of Outstanding Success in 2024
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is proud to announce the “2024 Best of SBCC,” reflecting on a year marked by significant achievements, innovation, and community engagement. As a cornerstone of this celebration, SBCC is thrilled to highlight the passing of the Measure P Bond extension, ensuring the continued excellence and modernization of our facilities and programs.
Measure P Bond Extension: Building the Future
The Measure P Bond extension represents a historic investment in SBCC’s mission to provide exceptional education and resources. This extension secures funding for critical infrastructure upgrades, campus sustainability projects, and expanded access to state-of-the-art learning environments. This achievement underscores the community’s unwavering support for SBCC and its role as a leading educational institution.
County of Ventura Supervisor Jeff Gorell — East County Family Justice Center
Thousand Oaks has officially been selected as the next location for a much-needed Family Justice Center. These centers are transformative—and often life-saving—resources for our community’s most vulnerable members.
The announcement was made at this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting and it marked a significant milestone in the collaborative effort to bring this vision to life in East County.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura Board of Supervisors approve expansion of Land Conservation Act Program to offer tax relief to agricultural landowners
“We’re excited to expand this program and offer more agricultural landowners the chance to benefit from lower property taxes,” said 3rd District Supervisor, Kelly Long, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “This will be an incentive to continue to generate thriving agricultural production in Ventura County and show our strong support for ag producers. Through this action, we are indicating that we understand the need to provide opportunities for agricultural landowners to save money while continuing to support farming and wildlife conservation in our community.
Community Environmental Council — Let’s do work for tomorrow, today
When it comes to climate change, I believe it’s up to my generation to come up with new ideas and build momentum for change. We need to collaborate with everyone, and come together to make a positive impact.
The Community Environmental Council has been pivotal in my learning and activism. They’ve inspired me to step up, turn ideas into a reality, and have given me opportunities to make a difference.
We have so many solutions right at hand, including climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and climate leadership programs just to name a few. These are the types of solutions CEC educates, advocates, and pioneers for every day. This is the web of interconnecting positive solutions that we need now.