CARPINTERIA — Society today is focusing on the quality of life among the fastest growing population—American seniors. According to the California Department of Aging, seniors will have an overall increase of 112 percent during the period from 1990 to 2020.…
Category: Business
Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Names Chair, Vice-Chair
VENTURA COUNTY — The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDB) recently elected Gregory Liu as chair and Tracy Perez as vice-chair. Both will serve one-year terms. Liu is president/CEO of JAXX Manufacturing, an electronics manufacturing company in Simi Valley.…
CSUCI among four universities awarded joint grant to tackle freshman year dropout rates
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) and three other universities will address a challenge they have in common with a $75,000 joint grant from the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) Foundation. CSUCI, CSU Northridge, CSU Fresno and Portland State University all have…
Limón Bill Closes Chapter On Ojai Community Control Over Water System
SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 1794, authored by Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), was signed into law by Governor Brown on Monday July 9th. The bill removes references to the Golden State Water Company on the Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency Board of…
Third Annual Awards Put Spotlight on Local Contractors for Dedication to Home Energy Efficiency
CENTRAL COAST — As part of its third annual Contractor Recognition Awards, emPower Central Coast is pleased to recognize six local contractors for their commitment to helping homeowners throughout the Central Coast make energy efficient upgrades to their living spaces.…
Mark Sandoval named as Channel Islands Harbor Director
VENTURA — Mark Sandoval has been named as the new Channel Islands Harbor Director. The appointment was made by County Executive Officer Mike Powers and follows a nationwide recruitment that attracted applicants from across the country and internal candidates. Sandoval…
CSUCI online Business Administration degree ranked 16th best in the nation
CAMARILLO — A website devoted to researching the best colleges and universities in a number of categories has ranked CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s online Business bachelor’s degree program as the 16th Best Affordable Online Business Administration degree in the nation. The web site, “BestValueSchools.com,”…
KCLU journalist wins 4th national award
NPR station also received 6 regional reporting honors WASHINGTON, D.C. — KCLU Radio News Director Lance Orozco recently received his fourth national award for excellence in journalism. Orozco picked up the 2017 National Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Sigma Delta…
Paint Companies to Withdraw Ballot Measure That Absolves Corporations of Accountability
SACRAMENTO — At 5pm, June 28, the California Legislature, led by Assemblymember Monique Limón, (D-Santa Barbara), secured a major victory for millions of California taxpayers, guaranteeing the withdrawal of a paint company-funded ballot initiative that sought to hold California taxpayers accountable for billions…
Jackson Advances Statewide Industry-Funded Drug & Sharps Take-Back Program
Safe disposal of unused prescription drugs and medical sharps will reduce misuse and addiction while protecting water supply SACRAMENTO – To address a growing problem of prescription drug abuse, the devastating opioid epidemic, accidental poisonings, and traces of pharmaceuticals found in…
Island Packers’ Summer Schedule to Include Special Trips and Summer Whale Watching
VENTURA — With summer upon us, Island Packers is proud to announce the addition of specialty trips on selective dates to their already full schedule of summer excursions. Visitors to Ventura and locals alike can now explore select, seldom-visited destinations. In…
Housing Authority Announces Acquisition of Garden Court on De La Vina
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is pleased to announce its purchase of Garden Court on De La Vina, preserving the affordability of 97 studio units for low-income seniors in Santa Barbara. Located…
Ventura County budget sustains services: invests in capital projects, builds reserves
By the Ventura County News Channel VENTURA COUNTY — The Board of Supervisors passed a $2.245 billion Fiscal Year 2018-2019 budget on Monday, June 18. The budget begins with the start of the fiscal year on July 1, 2018. “The budget…
Bilingual report: Alexander Nguyen Hired as New City Manager of Oxnard
OXNARD — The search for a new City Manager in Oxnard is over. The Oxnard City Council on June 19 approved an agreement appointing Alexander Nguyen as the new City Manager, effective July 9, 2018. “Oxnard offers interesting challenges and…
Bilingual report: Enroll Now for Fall 2018 at the D’Arezzo Community Center, Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA — Enroll Now for Fall 2018 at the D’Arezzo Community Center, Santa Barbara. Space is limited. The D’Arezzo Community Center is a weekday Home School Enrichment Activities Program and a Daytime and after School Resource Center. The Center provides…
Bilingual commentary: Images of the American Shopping Mall
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes •…
Fire Prevention Funding Prioritized in State Budget Approved by the Legislature
SACRAMENTO — The California Legislature has approved a balanced budget for the fiscal year 2018-19, Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) reported on June 19. The budget prioritizes funding for fire recovery and prevention, makes significant investments in K-12 schools, provides emergency aid…
Oxnard School District Assistant Superintendent of Ed Services set to retire
OXNARD — After 42 years of dedicated service in education, Ms. Robin Freeman, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services at the Oxnard School District, will retire on June 29, 2018. Ms. Freeman has served as the Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services and…
Santa Barbara City College update for June 18
Santa Barbara City College’s Community Newsletter SBCC Named #1 Community College Santa Barbara City College has been named Number One of the Top 50 Best Value Community Colleges for 2018. Value Colleges, an organization that provides prospective students with a…
Bilingual report: Jesús Nava Appointed Interim City Manager in Oxnard
OXNARD — Council has adopted a resolution appointing Jesús Nava, an Assistant City Manager for Oxnard, as the Interim City Manager, effective close of business on June 22. He will serve until a new city manager is appointed by the City…
Housing Authority Secures $21.3 Million for the Development of Affordable Housing for Veterans and Seniors
SANTA BARBARA — Two affordable housing projects being developed by the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara have been allocated $21.3 million in tax credit financing to create 107 affordable rental units for veterans and seniors. The Housing…
County of Ventura publishes Thomas Fire Recovery Review
By the Ventura County News Channel VENTURA — On the six-month anniversary of the start of the Thomas Fire, the County of Ventura has published a review of its recovery efforts to date. The report, in English and Spanish, can be…
Jackson Applauds Passage of State Budget with Historic Investments in Wildfire Prevention and Recovery, Schools
SACRAMENTO — State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), released the following statement June 14 about the passage of the California State Budget, which includes significant funds for wildfire prevention and recovery as well as the highest level of school funding in state history,…
Assemblymember Irwin secures $9.5 million in California budget for Oxnard wastewater treatment plant
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) announced she has secured funding in the California budget to make emergency repairs to the City of Oxnard’s wastewater treatment plant. A recent assessment from the city’s Capital Improvement Projects state that 40%…
State Senate Committee Votes to Hold ‘Big Paint’ Accountable for Toxic Lead in Homes
SACRAMENTO — The Senate Judiciary Committee on June 12 delivered a victory to the millions of California homeowners whose families are at-risk because paint corporations contaminated their homes with poisonous lead-based paint. The Committee passed AB 2803 (Limón), a bill…
Local PODS Moving and Storage Offers ‘Moving Bridge’ to Homeowners during the Home Staging and Selling Process
CENTRAL COAST — As homeowners are competing to sell their homes quicker and for a higher price, sellers and agents continue to turn to home staging techniques and storage solutions like PODS to declutter rooms and allow buyers to envision…
Channel Islands Harbor Announces Revamped Website Launch
OXNARD — The Ventura County Harbor Department announced June 8 the launch of its revamped website, www.channelislandsharbor.org. This mobile-friendly, redesigned site offers quick and easy access to essential information about events, programs, services, recreational and dining opportunities, and businesses in…
SBCC Career Skills Institute, State and County Partners to Help Local Job Seekers Gain Customer Relations Skills
SANTA BARBARA — Career Skills Institute at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) School of Extended Learning offered one of its most popular, tuition-free certificates at the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) Employment Office in Santa Barbara as part…
Jackson Honors Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade as Nonprofit of the Year
Hundreds of volunteers helped dig their neighbors out of mud following Montecito debris flow SACRAMENTO–Recognizing their heroic efforts to help their neighbors following the devastating Montecito debris flow, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) on June 6 honored the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade…
United Way of Ventura County update for June 4
Click here for the entire e-newsletter President’s Message Dear Friends, For the first several months of 2018, almost all of Gareth Williams’ meals came from just a crockpot and toaster oven. Since early December, he had been living out…
EDC-VC update for June 4
Click here for the entire e-newsletter President’s Message Bruce Stenslie May 10th was a red letter day as EDC-VC joined local officials, First 5 Ventura County and Gus and Alma Ferrel, owners of ABC Kids Preschool, to cut the ribbon at…
Bilingual report: City of Oxnard Notice of Data Breach
OXNARD – The City of Oxnard takes seriously the security and protection of its customers’ confidential information. Last week, the city was alerted about unauthorized charges on credit cards used by customers to pay their utility bills. The following information outlines…
Jackson Bill to Halt Trump’s Offshore Drilling Expansion Passes off Senate Floor. See more updates here
SACRAMENTO – State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) ’s legislation to thwart the Trump Administration’s efforts to expand federal oil drilling off the California coast passed off the Senate floor today on a 24 to 8 vote. Senate Bill 834 will ensure that pipelines…
As Newly Appointed Assembly Banking Chair, Limón Advances Multiple Bills Securing Critical Protections for Consumers Seeking Capital
SACRAMENTO — Merely an hour after passing major legislation across the Assembly Floor that protects consumers from auto title lending practices that commonly result in borrowers losing their cars (AB 2953), Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) advanced additional consumer protection legislation in…
Limón Bill Ensuring Inclusive Emergency Communications Passes the Assembly Floor
SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 1877, a bill by Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) which requires natural disaster-related emergency communications to be made available in the most commonly spoken language other than English, just overcame a major legislative hurdle, passing the Assembly…
Housing Authority Honors New Beginnings Counseling Center as Outstanding Community Partner of Year
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) honored New Beginnings Counseling Center as its 2017 Outstanding Community Partner of the Year at a recent ceremony. New Beginnings provides short-term case management services to HACSB…
CEC Launches Solarize Santa Barbara
Solarize program takes a new step to include energy storage options. Workshops to be held June 6, July 11 SANTA BARBARA — The Community Environmental Council (CEC) announced the launch of Solarize Santa Barbara – a community-led, solar group-purchasing program for residents…
Global Trade Experts Share Expertise, Resources at E-Commerce Summit
CENTRAL COAST — World Trade Month is celebrated across the globe each May, and the South Central Coast celebrated by bringing global trade organizations from across the region together on Friday, May 11 to help the local business community understand…
Limón Bill Ensures Accountability for Harm Caused by Lead-Based Paint
SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 2803, a bill by Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) which seeks to hold paint manufacturers accountable for harm caused by lead-based paint production, just overcame a major legislative hurdle, passing the Assembly Floor on Monday, May 21st.…
Assemblymember Irwin Announces $68 million award for Rice Avenue Project in Oxnard
OXNARD – Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) hosted an event in Oxnard to announce $68.6 million dollars in funding for an overpass project at Rice Avenue and Fifth Street. This project will build a bridge at Rice Avenue over the train…
50 Home Challenge Energy Champions Honored by Local Officials
SOLVANG — The first 50 Home Challenge – Solvang participants to complete extensive home energy efficiency projects recently celebrated the milestone with city and county officials at Solvang City Hall. Solvang Mayor Jim Richardson and Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann…
Oxnard College Launches Two Year, Tuition-Free Promise
OXNARD — The California Promise and the Oxnard 15 to Finish Promise are making the first two years of community college tuition free. Together, these two programs pay the per-unit cost of classes taken at Oxnard College for the first two…
SBCC Named #1 Community College by Value Colleges
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College has been named Number One of the Top 50 Best Value Community Colleges for 2018. Value Colleges, an organization that provides prospective students with a practical guide to the most financially sound investments…
Bilingual report: Oxnard Urges Residents and Businesses to Become more Energy Conscious and ‘Do Your Thing’***
OXNARD — Oxnard is urging all residents and businesses to become more energy conscious. The Oxnard City Council this week adopted a resolution to support a campaign by Energy Update California (EUC) called “Do Your Thing.” The campaign aims to motivate…
Rabobank’s Brae Grensky to Serve as Chair of the 2018 Santa Barbara Heart Walk
Santa Barbara Heart & Stroke Walk/Run will take place on Saturday, September 29 SANTA BARBARA — Rabobank Assistant Vice President, Banking Services Manager Brae Grensky will serve as Chair of the American Heart Association’s 2018 Santa Barbara Heart & Stroke Walk/Run for the first…
Jackson Applauds Funding for Highway 101 Expansion in Santa Barbara
SACRAMENTO — State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) on May 17 applauded the California Transportation Commission for awarding Santa Barbara more than $183 million for the Highway 101 expansion project. Coupled with an award of more than $170 million from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program…
Social Justice Fund for Ventura County update for May 18
Click here for more information We are writing to provide you with an update on our Implicit Bias grantees and their accomplishments. The Social Justice Fund made grants last year totaling $25,000 for projects dealing with Implicit Bias in Education.…
Bilingual report: Oxnard Deputy City Attorney Receives National PAL Alumni of the Year Award
OXNARD — Oxnard Deputy City Attorney Jason Zaragoza has received the National Police Activities League Alumni (PAL) of the Year award. “Oxnard PAL has changed the lives of countless youth in the city,” said Zaragoza. “I’m just one of many who…
Hospice of Santa Barbara Welcomes New Community Engagement Manager and Patient Care Services Outreach Coordinator
SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara is pleased to welcome Jeanne West as its new Community Engagement Manager and Adriana Marroquin as Patient Care Services Outreach Coordinator. Jeanne West has nearly 50 years’ experience in the healthcare industry and…
Jackson Bill to Help Montecito and Other California Homeowners Recover Mudslide Losses Passes off Senate Floor
SACRAMENTO — Legislation by State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), to help Montecito and other California homeowners whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by fire-induced mudslides, passed off the Senate Floor today on a 25 to 11 vote. Senate Bill 917 clarifies…