The next meeting of the County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for
9 a.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building
Board Hearing Room
511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria
The public may participate virtually, or in person at the County Board Hearing Room
in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria.
moment to remind you of important safety information to help keep you and your loved ones safe.
? Stay Informed:
Emergency Alerts: If you haven’t yet registered for emergency alerts, now is the time. Visit VCALERT.ORG to sign up today.
Emergency Updates: Stay up to date on all emergency information at VCEMERGENCY.COM. This site also provides links to updates for neighboring counties.
?? Be Prepared:
Take this opportunity to review your emergency preparedness plans. Helpful information and resources can be found at ReadyVenturaCounty.org.
? Weather Outlook:
Ventura County Sheriff’s Emergency Services and the National Weather Service are monitoring a strong Santa Ana Wind event expected to impact Ventura County thru Friday, January 10th.
Due to strong winds and heightened wildfire conditions, the City of Santa Paula is experiencing weather-related power outages and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). We want to ensure our community stays safe and informed during this time. Below are essential tips, resources, and important updates to help you navigate these conditions.
VISALIA — More than 100 people (on Jan. 8) attended the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR) public hearing at the Visalia Veterans’ Memorial Building on its draft regulation of cancer-causing 1,3-dichloropropene (aka 1,3-D, brand name Telone) that addresses only “occupational bystanders” and relies on completely different assumptions of lifetime cancer risk exposure than the law regulating the same pesticide towards children and residents near agricultural fields.
VENTURA — Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), host of annual Farm Day events in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and student agriculture education programs, is launching “Farm Day Every Day,” a series of free community events alternating at farms in both counties.
The program kicks off at Petty Ranch in Saticoy on Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Visitors will tour the Petty Farm avocado orchard with farm manager Chris Sayer to learn the secrets of successfully growing avocados. The event includes hands-on activities at SEEAG’s Farm to Food Lab, where children can participate in an insect hunt, visit a vermicompost (worm) station and plant seedlings. Ten attendees will win avocado trees through a drawing.
leading provider of transparent and independent credit ratings worldwide, upgraded the City’s Issuer Credit Rating from “A+” to “AA-” and the underlying City’s General Fund Lease from “A” to “A+.” S&P also raised the City’s Gas Tax Bond from “AA-” to “AA.”
“I’m pleased that S&P has once again recognized the City’s financial progress with these rating upgrades,” said Mayor Luis Mc Arthur. “This shows our ongoing commitment towards securing long-term financial stability and a stronger future for Oxnard.”
S&P credit analyst Krystal Tena stated, “The upgrade reflects the city’s improved financial position characterized by a trend of stable financial performance and improved reserve position, underpinned by strong financial management practices that we view as well embedded.”
VENTURA — Ventura County Environmental Health is pleased to announce that the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) for residents enrolled in the County-Led Debris Removal Program will officially open its doors on Wednesday, January 8. The DROC will be located at the former Ventura County Fire Department Headquarters at the Camarillo Airport. The center will serve as the main hub for all Phase 2 debris removal operations, as debris removal for properties impacted by the Mountain Fire is set to begin this month.
(Jan. 6), my tenure on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors came to an end. I consider myself fortunate and blessed that voters have trusted me to serve in elected office and make a difference for 21 years.
When I first came into office people called me a young gun. But in two decades I have seen a lot, and want to leave you with some parting thoughts.
I don’t believe any elected official can make every call right. When you vote on several thousands of pieces of legislation per year, you can never be perfect, as much as I have deeply wanted to.
The issues of our time are daunting.
SANTA BARBARA — At 6:44am on June 29, 1925, a powerful earthquake devastated Santa Barbara, killing eleven people and destroying or damaging much of downtown. It was a pivotal moment in the City’s history because, out of the debris emerged the Spanish revival city of today.
The EQ25 Alliance is made up of charitable and historical organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, and Santa Barbara residents, under the umbrella of The Santa Barbara Conservancy, a local nonprofit.. They are coordinating a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake and its aftermath with a variety of events and symbolic activities.
“Ventura County is proud to partner with Women’s Economic Ventures, an organization that has consistently demonstrated its ability to transform our local business landscape,” said County of Ventura Deputy Executive Officer of Economic Vitality, Estelle Bussa. “Their proven track record of helping entrepreneurs access capital and acquire crucial business knowledge has made a significant impact on our community. This partnership represents our commitment to supporting small businesses that are the backbone of our local economy.”
The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on fourteen different factors of evaluation, including number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment and strategic importance to the state or region.
Application Period Timeline: For fiscal year 2024-2025, GO-Biz will accept applications for the California Competes Tax Credit during the following periods:
VENTURA — The 39th Annual California Strawberry Festival is accepting applications from individual makers of quality, handcrafted works by artists and crafters for this year’s festival taking place May 17 and 18 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The deadline to apply is Feb. 10.
The festival, which attracts more than 60,000 visitors, features dozens of different kinds of foods and beverages made from fresh strawberries. About 150 artisans from throughout California showcase their original works including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, children’s toys, accessories, photography, textiles, outdoor furniture, jewelry and specialty foods
VENTURA — Registration for the City of Ventura’s 2025 Corporate Games opens on January 7, 2025. The Games will occur over the course of five weeks from March 22 to May 3, 2025, on weekends and weeknights after regular business hours.
This annual program brings together businesses from Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties to compete against each other in various activities and sporting events. All local companies and businesses are welcome to join. Registration ends February 14, 2025.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming teams old and new back to the Games,” said Recreation Supervisor Tyler Nelson. “We’ve been hosting the Games for over 35 years, and every season we’re working to improve our activities, ensure participants have a great time, and create lasting memories.”
The next meeting of the County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for
9 a.m. Tuesday, January 7, 2025
County Administration Building
Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor
105 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara
The public may participate virtually, or in person at the County Board Hearing Room
in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria.
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital welcomed its first baby of the new year.
Mariam and Igor Boyko of Ventura welcomed their fourth child, a baby girl named Esther Love Boyko, into the world at 3:07 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (SBCH).
Weighing 7 pounds and 4 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches, Baby Boyko is already captivating hearts with her arrival.
Baby Boyko arrival marks not just the start of a new year but the beginning of a new chapter in the Boyko family’s lives.
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Thank you to all the Port customers, community, government, and agency partners who help us make cargo move. We wish you a joyous holiday season and a prosperous new year!
Although this meeting is designed to support Mountain Fire victims, emergency preparedness is vital for everyone in our community. Disasters can strike unexpectedly, and taking steps now can make all the difference. I encourage you to visit ReadyVenturaCounty.org to access valuable resources and ensure you and your loved ones are ready for whatever may come.
The Mountain Fire left a lasting impact on our community, and I know the path to recovery can feel overwhelming for many community members. Please know that you are not alone. At the recent Board of Supervisors Meeting, I directed Staff to bring forward a measure—one that I proudly voted for—to waive fees and streamline processes to assist Mountain Fire victims in their rebuilding efforts. Click here to learn more.
VENTURA COUNTY — Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) provided free agricultural education to nearly 26,000 students and community members in Southern California in 2024.
The nonprofit organization delivered hands-on agricultural education to 9,796 students from 87 schools across 26 school districts stretching from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara counties. Third-grade students participated in free field trips to SEEAG’s Farm Labs at working farms in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. They learned about nutrition, wellness and healthy eating during in-classroom instruction. Older students received STEM education and explored agricultural career opportunities.
The California Central Coast we love – with its breathtaking vistas and reputation as a lighthouse community for environmental action – exists because people like you saw the need to protect it. Now it’s our turn to ensure our region remains a beacon.
Donate today and DOUBLE the effects of your gift.
This year was marked with so much success because of strong partnerships, faithful support and visionary investments from people like you. Thank you for every part you played through your advocacy, goodwill and generous support. You made stories like these below possible!
The holidays are often the perfect time to reflect on what matters most: celebrating togetherness, cherishing traditions, and creating new memories with loved ones. They also invite us to honor those who are with us and those we carry in our hearts.
At Friendship Center, we understand how precious these connections are. We honor and celebrate the memories of everyone who has touched our lives—those we cherish today and those whose legacy inspires us every day.
As we approach the end of the year, I’d like to share that our Matching Memories campaign is in its final stretch.
SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is less than $110,000 away from meeting its $1 million goal for the Legacy of Compassion Campaign, which launched in celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary. The campaign aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of HSB’s free compassionate care services, helping to meet the current demand and build a stronger foundation for the future.
Funds raised from this campaign will go toward reducing the counseling waitlist for grieving adults, expanding HSB’s presence in schools to support all children experiencing grief, assisting patients in navigating the medical system, developing new services to reach more families, and preparing for the rising wave of need in the years ahead.
“Courses that lead to jobs in healthcare such as nursing require expensive books and materials that often create a financial barrier for low-income students to enter these professions,” says Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director. “Digitizing textbooks and establishing a lending library for required equipment brings those costs down to zero. For many students, this grant will open the door to high-paying, in-demand medical jobs. It will also impact the entire county’s healthcare system as students graduate and enter the workforce.”
Over the past weeks, we have witnessed extraordinary acts of generosity that have not only improved the lives of hundreds of families in our community, but have also addressed some of Ventura County’s most urgent challenges, including access to clean water, advancing higher education, preserving local journalism, and affordable housing.
Because of your compassion and unwavering support for your neighbors, last week VCCF’s Board of Directors approved an additional $650,000 to assist those most affected by the Mountain Fire. To date, more than $975,313 has been granted, providing families with access to temporary housing, replacement of vital medical equipment, and other essential resources. Your generosity has also covered emergency veterinary bills for injured pets, supported over 450 animal rescues, and provided families with much-needed financial assistance and childcare as they work to rebuild their lives. You have helped farmworkers who lost both work and housing, and so much more.
When you support SBCFAN, you’re supporting programs that make a tangible impact—programs like our Emergency Aid and Food Justice Program.
This year, we awarded $40,000 to 9 recipients across Santa Barbara County, providing critical funding to students, local food producers, small businesses, and community organizations addressing food inequity. These grants helped recipients plan, grow, experiment, strengthen, and ultimately build a more resilient local food system.
nueva unidad pediátrica
El miércoles 18 de diciembre, líderes locales, pacientes y sus familias se reunieron para celebrar la gran inauguración de la recién contruida Unidad Pediátrica del Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC por sus siglas en inglés).
Financiada con una subvención estatal de 15 millones de dólares de la Propuesta 4, la nueva unidad de 16 camas está diseñada para proporcionar una atención integral y centrada en la familia a niños, desde recién nacidos hasta adultos jóvenes.
Apply Now!
Thanks to legislation approved by Congress and signed by President Biden, SBA has received $2 billion to resume issuing disaster loans. Residents and businesses can now get the disaster loan assistance they need to recover from recent disasters across the nation.
SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request SBA received from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s authorized representative, Director Nancy Ward, of the California Office of Emergency Services on November 25. The disaster declaration makes low-interest federal disaster loans available to residents and businesses the counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Kern who were affected by the Mountain Fire that began November 6.
Opening Reception: What is Beauty? Rethinking Women’s Portraiture in Art
Friday, January 17
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
@Museum of Ventura County
100 E. Main St., Ventura
Join us for the Opening of What is Beauty? Rethinking Women’s Portraiture in Art in the Wachtell Gallery at the Museum of Ventura County. This exhibition invites us to explore diverse perspectives on beauty through fourteen portraits by Ventura County artists from the Museum’s permanent collection.
Spanning works created between 1939 and 2011, this exhibition showcases a range of styles—from vibrant realism to minimalist simplicity—challenging traditional standards shaped by art, media, and society. Featured artists Carlisle Cooper, Hiroko Yoshimoto, Johanna Spinks, John Nava, John Nichols, Kitty Botke, Lis Schwitters, Michael Ward, Neal Barr, Omar d’León, and Robert Clunie offer eclectic interpretations of women’s portraiture.
Experience the beauty of the evening with live music from Ventura Music Festival, beer and wine for sale, and an atmosphere sure to inspire. Register free of charge by clicking HERE!
VENTURA — The Ventura City Council has approved the appointment of Tony Lee as Interim Police Chief, with the decision finalized on December 17, 2024. Lee brings more than 30 years of distinguished law enforcement experience, highlighted by leadership, community engagement, and operational excellence. He will assume the role on December 28, 2024, and serve until a new police chief is hired.
Lee most recently served as Chief of Police at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), leading the largest of the 10 University of California Police Departments for six years. His department served nearly 50,000 students, faculty, and staff, with a daytime campus population exceeding 100,000.
At its regular meeting on December 17, 2024, the Ventura City Council appointed Deputy Mayor and District 4 Councilmember Dr. Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios as the new Mayor and District 3 Councilmember Doug Halter as the new Deputy Mayor. Per the City of Ventura’s Charter, the Council selects the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, who each serve two-year terms in their roles.
Mayor Dr. Sanchez-Palacios has served on the Ventura City Council since her appointment in February 2021, followed by her election to a full four-year term in 2022. She holds a Doctorate in Higher Education from California Lutheran University, a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge, and a Bachelor’s in Women’s Studies from UCLA.
“We are thrilled to have this dedicated space to care for the children of Ventura County,” stated Dr. Todd Flosi, Director of Inpatient Pediatric Strategy. “Our multidisciplinary team—comprising physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, social workers, and child life specialists—has specialized training and expertise in caring for children. We focus not only on their medical needs but also on their developmental and emotional well-being. Our goal is to provide excellent care while minimizing the discomfort and disruption that hospitalization can cause for both the child and their family.”
This year felt as if we have lived a thousand lives. As Executive Director of 805UndocuFund, and as someone who comes from an immigrant family, I carry the weight of these past days and year deeply. The numbers are staggering, but what stays with me are the faces, the phone calls, the children waiting for parents who never came home. This level of enforcement violence is not accidental, it is intentional, and it is devastating entire communities in real time.
What gives me hope is our collective response. Community members are showing up for one another with courage, care, and refusal to be silent. Mutual aid, rapid response, and collective defense are acts of love and resistance. As we close this year, I am asking you to stand with our community. Your support allows us to act immediately, protect families, and ensure that no one is taken in silence or forgotten.
In solidarity,
Labor Market Report for November 2024
The California Labor Market Information Division has released its November 2024 report, showing no change to the unemployment rate, steady month-over-month at 4.9% and nearly unchanged year-over-year, though up a tick from 4.8% in November 2023.
For those who follow this report, apologies, we’ve been busy a bit and skipped last month. That noted, for this month, we’re providing only a brief summary, including a bit of a look back, over the five-year period to November 2019, to what was then just a couple of months short of the onset of pandemic. Next month we’ll have the full calendar year 2024 to look at and will make some observations accordingly.
PASADENA — Kaiser Permanente (which operates Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura) 2025 Rose Parade® float theme, “More Healthy Days for More Healthy Years,” will appear at the 136th annual Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2025.
The theme represents Kaiser Permanente’s belief that everyone should have the opportunity to live their best, healthiest life every day. The float celebrates total health – body, mind, and spirit – and how Kaiser Permanente supports the health and wellbeing of its members and communities.
This year, Kaiser Permanente’s 19th annual float entry embodies the 2025 Rose Parade presented by Honda theme, “Best Day Ever,” celebrating life’s best moments. The float symbolizes a day of healthy living, featuring a sun at one end and a moon at the other, with various healthy activities in between. The float includes depictions of nutritious foods, physical activity, and mental wellness for people of all ages and abilities.
Jan. 15 — CLU School of Management to present ‘Life in Tune with Freddie Ravel’
Click here for more information
Schneiders & Associates, in partnership with the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and SCORE, invites you to the Annual Employment Law Update! This in-person event offers a comprehensive overview of the latest employment laws and practical insights to help your business stay compliant and ahead of the curve. This essential event covers critical topics like NLRB rulings, freelance protections, handbook updates, travel time rules, and IRS mileage rates.
There are critical changes for employers in 2025, from pay increases to newly recommended wage-and-hour practices, required safety plans, and more! This is a webinar you don’t want to miss.
