At their meeting on Sept. 15, the SBCC Board of Trustees passed a resolution to join in with others across the United States to proclaim Sept.15-Oct 15, 2022, as Hispanic Heritage Month. National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the invaluable ways in which Hispanics contribute to our society. Read the resolution.
Artwork by Delilah Bovatsek, a second grader at Brookside Elementary School in Oak Park, was selected by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to appear in its 2023 print calendar and digital library.
MWD provides water to 19 million people in Southern California. Students throughout MWD’s service area, including those in the Triunfo Water & Sanitation District (TWSD), had the opportunity to submit original water-related artwork to MWD’s “Water is Life” Student Art Calendar Contest earlier this year.
Bovatsek and her family attended the TWSD September 19 board meeting where TWSD board chair Leon Shapiro presented Delilah with a certificate of recognition as well as a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble.
Goal coach and feng shui expert Lauren Bragg has been named president of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Santa Barbara chapter (NAWBO-SB).
An entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience running her own business, Bragg is a certified goal and health coach. She’s helped thousands of women achieve their dreams through the art of goal setting, and is creator of a Goal Setting Crash Course and the Accountability Academy.
In addition to her private coaching practice, Bragg co-founded The Feng Shui Collective with her mother, Pamela, with whom she works to transform people’s physical spaces to support their goals. She believes that a person’s physical space not only reflects who they are, but also either helps or hinders their ability to succeed and get things done.
Bragg is a cheerleader for other women business owners and enjoys creating space for female entrepreneurs to network and grow their expertise. She co-leads several women’s retreats including The Elevate Retreat in Carpinteria (the next one is scheduled for April, 2023).
“I am a proud member of NAWBO and honored to serve as president of NAWBO Santa Barbara,” Bragg said.
Assembly Bill (AB) 325 authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) was signed by Governor Newsom on Saturday, September 17. AB 325 will create the Veteran’s Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program to fund local service providers working with California veterans to assist them in filing discharge upgrade applications.
“I am grateful to Governor Newsom for signing AB 325,” said Assemblymember Irwin. “Veterans have bravely fought for our safety, and it is only fair that we now fight for theirs and provide them with the services and benefits that are owed to them.”
The nature of a veteran’s discharge from their military service branch has an effect on what benefits they may be eligible for based on their service. As a result, a less than honorable discharge deprives veterans from accessing important federal and state benefits resulting in veterans paying higher costs for housing, health care, and education.
EN ESPAÑOL: SBA Y SCORE: REUNIÓN VIRTUAL EN ESPAÑOL CON MENTORES DE SCORE
Septiembre 20 a las 4:00 pm
Acompaña a la SBA para hablar con los mentores de SCORE. SCORE es una organización, de voluntarios que prestan su tiempo, gratuitamente. Ayudan a las personas a crecer o a crear pequeñas empresas.
HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA REGISTRARSE
Gerry Pantoja has been named Director of Philanthropy at the Ventura College Foundation. He had previously held the position of Director of Major and Planned Giving.
“It is a privilege to work with individuals and organizations who have and continue to seek to improve our community through the power of education,” says Pantoja. “Through their partnerships and ongoing support, our students will go on to earn certificates and degrees or transfer to a four-year university, obtaining the skills and knowledge that will not only better their lives but Ventura as well. In this new role, I look forward to continuing this work with our community partners to expand our ability to make a difference in the lives of the students who will lead and care for Ventura in the coming years.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Responsible Battery Recycling Act today as part of a larger climate action package. Together, SB 1215 and AB 2440 will create a statewide collection and recycling program for consumer batteries and products that contain batteries. The signing of these bills mark the culmination of many years of effort to address battery waste.
California classifies batteries as hazardous waste and bans them from solid waste landfills because of the hazardous metals and corrosive materials that batteries contain. When improperly discarded, batteries pose serious fire, health and safety hazards that disrupt the state’s waste stream and poison the environment. …
“Few people know that batteries are actually hazardous waste and those of us who do have containers of used batteries we don’t know what to do with. This means the majority of batteries end up in curbside waste bins, causing damage to our recycling facilities which ultimately requires rate payers to pay more on our utility bills,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), author of AB 2440.
If booking a commercial flight for your next vacation or business trip raises your anxiety level given the state of the airline industry, consider private jet travel that caters to all your travel needs and provides unparalleled VIP service that never leaves you hanging.
Headquartered in Camarillo, the newly opened TruNorth Jets serves clients’ travel needs within the United States to Europe, Mexico, Bahamas and beyond, providing the efficiencies of smaller airports and the exclusive benefits of private aviation.
Sarah Oberman, a Rio Mesa High School graduate from Camarillo who holds a bachelor’s in business management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, launched TruNorth Jets in January and promises an unmatched, first class travel experience.
“I am so proud to provide a highly customized luxury service that makes travel efficient and stress-free,” Oberman said. “No detail is too small. Our clients fly private to avoid crowded airline terminals, long security lines and large airport delays.”
UndocuFund, 805 UndocuFund and The Latino Community Foundation (LCF), will co-host the first-ever UndocuFund Summit during the start of peak wildfire season in California. From September 18-20th at North Bay Organizing Project (NBOP) in Sonoma, the Summit will convene leaders from over 30 grassroots immigrant-serving organizations across California that responded to the pandemic and other disasters. Community leaders will highlight the experiences of undocumented Californians throughout the state and explore collective state and federal advocacy efforts.
“Undocumented workers contribute billions to the economy, yet are excluded from federal disaster aid,” said Beatrice Camacho, Director of UndocuFund in Sonoma County. “Without a safety net, California’s undocumented essential workers have labored through wildfires and smoke, 110 plus degree heatwaves, and the pandemic. They were forced to risk their lives to keep food on the nation’s table during devastating disasters. Now it’s time for California to make them a priority.”
California is home to 10.6 million immigrants (foreign-born individuals) who comprise 27 percent of California’s population. Recent data shows that one in five children in the state are U.S. citizens living with at least one undocumented family member (1.7 million children in total).
Supervisor Lavagnino and I sponsored and presented a resolution declaring Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th, 2022 through October 15th, 2022 to the Carpinteria Latinx Collective, Mujeres Makers Market, and Casa de la Raza. This year’s theme is, “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation,” this theme reinforces the need to ensure diverse voices and perspectives are welcomed in decision-making processes, thereby helping to build stronger communities, and a stronger Nation, and reminds us that we are stronger together.
Southern California is home to millions of people of Latino heritage, many with family roots in California going back centuries. It is no surprise that Latino culture has influenced almost every aspect of life in SoCal, ranging from food and…
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) and their Electric Drive 805 coalition partners are proud to sponsor a variety of free, in-person, and virtual events leading up to and during National Drive Electric Week, scheduled for September 23 to October 2, 2022. The public is invited to learn about the wide range of electric vehicles (EVs) that can fit most every lifestyle and budget—and provide independence from fossil fuels.
National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide celebration aimed at helping the United States transition rapidly and equitably to cleaner transportation in order to protect communities from pollution and worsening climate change impacts. Transportation is the largest source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in California. To prevent further climate impacts and protect our air, the California Air Resources Board issued a rule last month that fully bans the sale of new gas-powered cars starting in 2035.
PORT HUENEME — Opening day of the 2022 FATHOMWERX Summit on Sept. 14, 2022 was a success with hundreds of people representing partner organizations gathered to explore the intersection between technology and the Department of the Navy. The two-day event was held at the FATHOMWERX Lab located at the Port of Hueneme.
At their meeting on Sept. 15, the Santa Barbara Community College District Board of Trustees announced that Carola Smith has been selected to serve as Vice President, School of Extended Learning, for Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). She will begin serving in the role immediately.
Smith has served as the Interim Vice President, School of Extended Learning, for nearly one year and has been with SBCC for more than 25 years. During that time she worked extensively with a variety of academic and student support programs, including Study Abroad, International programs, Business, and Media Arts. Prior to becoming an administrator, she served as faculty in several departments, including the School of Modern Languages, English as a Second Language (ESL), Work Experience and Personal Development.
Major construction companies waste billions of dollars every year due to process inefficiencies. As the final product typically takes priority, other areas, like the storage of equipment and materials, often fall by the wayside. Large pieces of equipment are left unsecured, leaving them susceptible to theft. Project managers and team members are burdened with shuttling tools and materials back and forth to off-site facilities, further expending valuable time. According to construction software company PlanGrid, these sorts of process inefficiencies cost the construction industry $177 billion every year. PODS’ simple solution of on-site storage containers can help increase efficiencies by keeping tools, materials, and equipment at the job site.
Here are four of the biggest reasons to use storage containers on your construction site:
The Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) announces the replacement of the Bradley Road Bridge, beginning August 26th, 2022 until December 2nd, 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 lane will be closed either direction
9/6-11/8 – Full road closure
11/9-11/30 – Single lane will be closed either direction
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) President Richard Yao, Ph.D. will be formally recognized as the fourth president of the University during an investiture ceremony scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Friday Sept. 23, at the John Spoor Broome Library Plaza.
The investiture ceremony is traditionally held within the president’s first year, giving the campus and the larger community the opportunity to celebrate a new era as the formal title and authority of the CSU are conferred on the new president. This investiture ceremony occurs at the beginning of another era: it is being held the same year CSUCI celebrates its 20thanniversary and embarks on its third decade as Ventura County’s first and only four-year public University.
Provost Mitch Avila, Ph.D., describes Yao as the right leader at the right time for CSUCI.
“We rarely see a leader with these qualities: visionary, data-informed, and hard-working,” Avila said. “His inspirational leadership for CSUCI is grounded in an unwavering and genuine commitment to our students and the region, built on the promise of higher education as a social escalator for our students. President Yao understands that “servingness” is at the heart of our institutional mission as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and works hard to make certain our University meets the needs of each and every one of our students. On a personal note, I am continually impressed by Rich’s energy, drive, and focus — it’s hard to keep up! Good things ahead!”
The campus again lands in U.S. News & World Report’s Top 10, ranking No. 7 among the country’s top public universities.
California Lutheran University has jumped two spots to its highest position ever in the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings — sixth among 130 ranked regional universities throughout 15 Western states.
The overall U.S. News rankings consider student outcomes, faculty resources, academic reputation, per-student spending, admissions selectivity and alumni giving. The 2022-2023 list, released Sept. 12, includes universities in the West that provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s degrees, and a few doctoral programs.
The university jumped seven spots from 14th to seventh on the Best Value Schools list, which factors in academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid. At Cal Lutheran, 97% of full-time undergraduate students receive need-based financial aid.
The County of Ventura’s Environmental Health Division (Division) advises the public against consuming food and beverages made or sold by street vendors that do not possess a valid health permit.
Informational Flyer
Food trucks and food carts that operate with a health permit are expected to follow food safety laws and are subject to routine health inspections by the Division. These vendors will have an identifying sticker issued by the County of Ventura on the vehicle or cart that looks like this:
The Division is seeing an increase in unpermitted food sales from food carts and pop-up food stands throughout the county. Many unpermitted vendors are coming from areas outside of Ventura County. These vendors are unfairly impacting local vendors who have obtained their licenses and training to do business in Ventura County.
The Ventura County Grand Jury seeks opportunities to speak to community organizations, non-profit organizations, and similar groups as part of its education outreach program.
The Grand Jury investigates matters affecting aspects of government in Ventura County. Jurors serve as a “voice and conscience” of Ventura County residents concerning their local governments. The Jury comprises 19 citizens who are impaneled by the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.
Ventura Land Trust purchased a 2019 Toyota Tacoma to replace a field truck lost last year in a traffic collision, bringing the number in the organization’s fleet of field trucks to two. The truck was purchased with support from community donations, corporate support, and a lead gift from Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas).
The four-wheel drive field truck is used daily to transport Ventura Land Trust staff, tools, water tanks, and other gear necessary for conservation work and preserve management. The truck is also used to haul thousands of pounds of trash from the Ventura River.
“This truck replaces a field truck that was 20 years old,” says Ventura Land Trust Executive Director Melissa Baffa. “It feels good to have a vehicle that can safely carry our staff and partners, and that is capable of meeting the demands of land stewardship.”
“We know that people will see this truck driving around town with the water tank we use to care for young plants, or piled high with trash bags from a clean-up. It’s really a moving symbol of the work we do every day to protect and preserve local open spaces. We’re pleased to have the support of the community and partners like SoCalGas, who understood the urgent need to add to our field truck fleet and came through with the support we needed to do so.”
Today, the life and legacy of Supervisor Carmen Ramirez was honored at the first Board of Supervisors meeting since her passing. We are grateful to all who joined to remember and celebrate her life and dedicated service.
View the meeting recording here.
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is pleased to welcome Em Johnson as its Director of Climate Resilience, charged with empowering California’s Central Coast communities to better respond, recover, adapt, and thrive in the face of climate change-related disruptions. Johnson takes the place of Sharyn Main who departed CEC in July after spending a cumulative 14 years with CEC, most recently as the Director of Climate Resilience.
Johnson brings a wealth of expertise around rural innovation, social enterprise, and nonprofit leadership to the position. During her five years as Executive Director of the Blue Sky Center, she brought creativity, innovation, and investment into the Cuyama Valley in Central California.
VENTURA COUNTY SCORE: HOW TO RECORD PAYROLL IN QUICKBOOKS ONLINE
September 13 @ 10:30 am
This live, interactive webinar session is designed to help you understand the features, functions and benefits of QuickBooks Online for small business owners as well as assist you in implementing accounting best practices to manage your business finance. This webinar will concentrate on steps to properly record payroll transactions that are administered.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) rose in three major categories in the recently released U.S. News & World Report 2022 college and university rankings.
CSUCI falls into the Regional Universities West category where this year the University ranked No. 28, up 13 spots from its previous rank of No. 41. CSUCI was ranked No. 12, up eight rungs from No. 20 in the Top Public Schools category. And for Social Mobility, CSUCI ranked No. 11, climbing from No. 17 last year.
“The credit for these rankings goes to the campus students, faculty and staff, but also to the members of the community who have supported us through the years,” said President Richard Yao, Ph.D. “As we celebrate our 20th anniversary and look toward our third decade as the county’s only public university, we take pride in the national recognition and in the quality of graduates who join the work force to keep our economy thriving.”
The Foundation of VCCU, a philanthropic nonprofit organization established by Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU), has provided $47,500 in grants to support 10 local nonprofits’ efforts to support the Ventura County community.
The Foundation honored the grant recipients at a virtual celebration on Sept. 8, where representatives from each organization shared their stories.
The grant awardees include Reel Guppy Outdoors, Fit 4 the Cause, Ventura Family YMCA, Coalition for Family Harmony, For the Need Foundation, National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, Andrea Grace Soter-Simonson Memorial Foundation, Ojai Unified School District Family Fund, Housing Trust Fund Ventura County, and Community Action of Ventura County.
Now that CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Teaching Credential candidate Marina Luque is student teaching at her elementary school alma mater—Norma Harrington Elementary School—Luque’s former first grade teacher, Patricia Oropeza, has asked Luque to call her “Pat.”
“But I still call her Miss Oropeza,” Luque said. “I’m 33, I’m a mom, but I call her Miss Oropeza. And sometimes I walk through the halls and think ‘No running in the halls!’”
Ayde Almaraz, 44, is spending her residency in a bilingual classroom at Rio Real Elementary in the Rio School District. Her childhood was difficult, and, having immigrated from Mexico, she knows what it’s like not to speak English, and to struggle with basic needs. She wants to help other children who may be having the same experience.
“If a student doesn’t want to do anything, they probably haven’t had enough sleep, or they haven’t eaten,” Almaraz said. “I want to be there for them to assist them with their needs.”
Learn How Selling to Latin America’s Online Consumers Could Be Your Next Big Growth Opportunity!
Grow Big Initiative (GBI) is back with their MASSIVE Latin America Market Entry through eCommerce Direct Sales workshop. Gain immediate access to the 330mm people online across the region without writing any customs clearance paperwork, setting up bank accounts or creating any in-region marketing, payments or fulfillment infrastructure.
September 22 at 10:00 am PST
California Lutheran University has received $2.5 million to provide scholarships to accomplished students from low- and middle-income families.
The donation from the Camarillo-based TOLD Foundation is the largest that Cal Lutheran has ever received for scholarships outside of an estate gift.
The Rod Gilbert Achievement Scholarship is designed to address the fact that a growing number of students with financial need are attending Cal Lutheran. The share of the university’s undergraduate students who are eligible for federal Pell Grants, which are awarded to those with exceptional financial need, increased from 16% to 30% during the last 15 years. In the 2021-2022 academic year, 60% of undergraduates received state or federal need-based financial aid. These trends align with the Hispanic-Serving Institution’s successful efforts to enroll and graduate students from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal program – known as CalAIM – is the far-reaching, multi-year plan to transform Medi-Cal. The long-term mission of CalAIM is to offer 14+ million Californians a more equitable, coordinated, and person-centered approach to maximizing their health and life trajectory. The comprehensive program was developed by the State of California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). In Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, the local health plan CenCal Health is responsible for managing the implementation of CalAIM with its community partners.
CalAIM will provide expanded services that go beyond traditional medical care, addressing social factors that affect human health from birth to end of life, including homelessness, behavioral health, care of older adults, services for individuals transitioning from incarceration, and beyond. CalAIM is the State’s largest overhaul of how Medi-Cal services are delivered and paid since the implementation of managed care in the late 1970’s.
Latinos in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan region are making significant and rapidly growing contributions to the economy, according to a first-of-its-kind report by researchers from California Lutheran University and UCLA. The region’s Latino gross domestic product, or economic output, was $284.5 billion in 2018, the researchers found, larger than the entire economy of states like Oregon or Louisiana.
The full 2022 Los Angeles Metro Latino GDP Report will be officially revealed on Thursday, Sept. 8, during the L’Attitude Los Angeles Business Summit at The Belasco Theater in L.A.
The study, which covers the Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim metropolitan statistical area (MSA), is co-authored by the Center for Economic Research and Forecasting (CERF) at Cal Lutheran and the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture (CESLAC) at UCLA, and funded by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. In 2018, the Los Angeles metro area had a Latino population of 6 million, making L.A. the single largest MSA in the U.S. by Latino population.
Jest Improv, a local LGBTQIA+ (and ally) comedy improv school, that meets out of the Diversity Collective in Ventura, has announced its Jest Improv’s Diversity Scholarship now available.
We want to do our part in reaching out to our community to help give financial assistance to those who want to pursue their comedy aspirations but don’t normally get the chance to.
If you have wanted to try comedy but feel that opportunity has been out of reach, we encourage you to apply.
Click the link down below to apply now!
As cyber threats continue to increase across the nation, the Port of Hueneme organized a cyber security seminar to gather experts in the field who shared their knowledge and best practices. Today’s event hosted over thirty people with a panel of experts from the U.S. Coast Guard, Naval Base Ventura County, IT companies, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Mary Beth Larkin is a self-proclaimed dreamer, doer and creator. And her latest creation will have visitors and locals of Santa Ynez thinking of more than wine when they visit downtown.
Larkin, a contemporary fashion designer and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in the industry, has opened (IN)LARKIN at 3568 Sagunto St., Suite D, in Santa Ynez as an extension of her exclusive e-commerce site inlarkin.com.
Mitchell D. Rosenberg, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, MSFS, AEP® has been named a member of the 2022 Chairman’s Cabinet of New York Life Insurance Company. Members of the elite Chairman’s Cabinet are the Top Fifty highest producing agents among New York Life’s elite sales force of more than 12,000 licensed agents. Mr. Rosenberg has been a New York Life agent since 1986, and is associated with New York Life’s San Fernando Valley General Office in Westlake Village.
Extreme heat is straining the state energy grid. Conserve energy now to protect public health and safety. Turn off or reduce nonessential power, if health allows. Power interruptions may occur unless you take action. Stay up to date at www.vcemergency.com.
Following a nationwide recruitment, the County of Ventura’s Executive Office has selected Dani Anderson as the County’s first-ever Disability Access Manager to expand community engagement efforts and improve service delivery for individuals with disability access and functional needs.
“We are thrilled to have Dani Anderson join our team. She brings extensive professional and lived experience that will help us build upon efforts to ensure county services are accessible and inclusive of people with disabilities and other functional needs, particularly in emergency response,” said Interim County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson. “Ensuring that our services align with the needs of our community members is critical, and we believe Dani is the perfect person for this new role.”
The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) announced today that it has received an Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant fromFHLBank San Francisco. The $730K grant will help fund Village Senior Apartments in Buellton, CA, and contribute to the development of 50 homes for low-income seniors ages 55 and older, including 13 affordable homes for previously unhoused seniors and 11 for seniors in need of home-based healthcare. The gated community will offer residents a social services delivery area, recreation room, a central courtyard for outdoor activities, and a community garden.
“CEDC has a bright future ahead of itself. We are leading the way in affordable housing for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties,”said Aiza Galdo, CEDC Board of Directors President. “Quality, safe, affordable housing and the way it transforms lives is what drives us here at Cabrillo to ensure we are constantly working towards providing more housing options in our community. We have two great projects that are currently in the pre-development stages. One of those is Village Senior Apartments located in Buellton’s beautiful wine country, providing senior housing mixed with veteran homeless housing.”
Summer may be coming to an end, but The Collection at RiverPark is keeping the fun going right into fall. In the coming months, The Collection at RiverPark is offering tons of excitement for visitors with two free concerts, several grand openings, a 5K walk and more.
“Fall is full of big plans here at The Collection,” said Marketing Director Jill Almonia. “In addition to all of the amazing shopping, dining and entertainment experiences we offer year-round, we’ve got lots of excellent events coming up this season — plus several incredible new businesses getting ready to open their doors.”
The Collection’s popular concert series, Rock the Collection, continues this fall with two more free events for all ages. On Sept. 28, The Long Run, an Eagles tribute band, will get everyone singing along to classic favorites. And on Oct. 19, Bruno and the Hooligans, a Bruno Mars tribute band, will be playing crowd pleasers all evening. Grab some lawn chairs and takeout, and head over to the grass at Collection Park to join the party. The music starts at 6:30 p.m.
Researchers estimate the environmental impacts of 57,000 common store-bought food products.
FATHOMWERX Summit, with participation from Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) Coastal Trident Open House and Agility Summit, has the goal of exploring the intersections between industry and the Department of the Navy. This inclusive event will be filled with tested technologies, demonstrations, tours, networking, keynote speakers, panels and the Department of the Navy program representatives and stakeholders.
September 14-15, 2022
FATHOMWERX LAB, 319 Ponoma Street, Port of Hueneme,
VENTURA COUNTY SCORE: DOUBLE YOUR SALES WITH 5 EASY STEPS
September 7 @ 10:30 am
Are you working too hard to find enough profitable customers and clients for your business? Bring your pen and paper. This hands-on webinar will take you through five specific ways people are doubling and tripling their sales with low-cost and no-cost techniques you can start using almost instantly. Whether you market traditionally or through the Internet, this is one of the most important workshops you will attend this year.
On #LaborDay, we celebrate America’s workforce – the men and women who play a critical role in building a strong economy and propelling it forward.
The Community Environmental Council applauds the California Legislature for passing a range of impressive climate bills last night. These bills and the federal government’s recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act provide the strongest tailwinds for climate progress that the United States has ever experienced. We urge the governor to sign these important measures to continue California’s climate and environmental leadership. Where California innovates, other states and nations follow, and 2022 is rapidly becoming the most momentous year for progress toward solving the climate crisis.
Central Coast Community Energy is asking customers to reduce electricity use on Thursday, September 1, from 4-9 p.m. after the California Independent System Operator extended a statewide Flex Alert. CCCE is providing information to customers via email and social media on the Flex Alert and the need to conserve electricity use. It is also important to remember if you are a solar customer, even though you generate energy unless you also store it, it is still necessary to conserve during this time. Additional Flex Alerts could be issued through the Labor Day weekend as triple-digit temperatures are forecasted across much of California and the West.
For information on Flex Alerts, and to find more electricity conservation tips, visit FlexAlert.org.
IT’S GONNA BE BANANAS ON SEPTEMBER 24, 10am-6pm!
Get ready for the tastes and sounds of Ports near and far. We’ve also added an Oldies By the Sea Car Show as you enter on Market Street. Keep an eye on performer lineup and other announcements through the Banana Festival website and social media.
Follow the Port Banana Festival social media:
Instagram | Facebook
After two years of virtual events, Hospice of Santa Barbara’s (HSB) Heroes of Hospice (HOH) is back in person and will be honoring local heroes on Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm at Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort’s Plaza del Sol.
HSB’s Heroes of Hospice Luncheon honors the people and organizations that bring compassion and care, at all levels, to those in need in and near the Santa Barbara community. Throughout these past two years, the demand for HSB’s services has been growing. Fundraisers like HOH allow the organization to reach our community members struggling with grief or life-threatening illness, free of charge.
This year, Heroes of Hospice What Matters Most will be honoring Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics with the MEDICAL HERO AWARD, Santa Barbara High School with the PARTNERSHIP HERO AWARD and Hospice of Santa Barbara Bereavement Staff with the STAFF HERO AWARD. The event will include a welcome reception, silent auction, lunch and the award presentation.
Ventura County was shaken by the loss of one its premier leaders this month, Carmen Ramirez. We mourn her loss, and our thoughts go out to her loved ones.
Carmen was a barrier breaker, being the first Latina elected to the Board of Supervisors for the county. Carmen was also an inspirational leader fighting for equity and human rights. There is a long list of leaders in our county who she coached as they moved into positions of responsibility. Carmen, an advocate for empowering local leaders and communities, was a long-time supporter of the Social Justice Fund for Ventura County. We will miss her presence and the model she was for thoughtful and principle-based leadership.
Here is our update:
Join Rodale Institute for an Organic Field Day at the California Organic Center on Tuesday, August 30 from 10 AM – 3 PM. Learn more about their organic practices and research projects, watch an electric tractor demonstration, and listen to a panel presentation on “Water, Labor and International Competition.” This event is free and perfect for all farmers. Register to attend.
Assemblymember Steve Bennett has selected Andria’s Seafood Restaurant & Market as the 2022 Small Business of the Year for the 37th Assembly District.
Andria’s Seafood Restaurant & Market, located in the Ventura Harbor, is one of the oldest continually owned and operated restaurants in Ventura. Michael Wagner started the business 40 years ago for his young daughter Andria who is now heavily involved in the day to day operations of the business. Andria’s accounts for 27% of all restaurant revenue in the Ventura Harbor. This year Michael and Andria celebrated the 40th anniversary of Andria’s Seafood Restaurant & Market.
If you test positive for COVID-19, there are treatments you can take at home that are safe and effective at preventing severe illness.
Most treatments must be started within 5 days of getting symptoms, so get tested and talk to your health care provider or find a Test to Treat location as soon as you notice symptoms. Your health care provider or Test to Treat site can tell you if you are eligible to receive treatment and which type would work best for you. To find a Test to Treat location near you, or for more information about COVID-19 therapeutics visit: www.vcrecovers.org/therapeutics/. If you are immunocompromised, ask your health care provider today if pre-exposure prevention therapy with Evusheld would be right for you.
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.”
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.
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.”
