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Oct. 22 — Moorpark College celebrates grand opening of expanded MakerSpace
Oct. 22 — Spooky surprises await at The Collection’s annual Trick-or-Treat!?
Oct. 23 — Community invited to celebrate Simi Valley Family YMCA’s 40th anniversary at alumni reunion and open house
Oct. 23 — Ventura County Community Foundation hosting Virtual Lunch & Learn
Oct. 25 — Ventura County Community Development Corp. presenting ‘Disaster Preparedness Workshops’
Oct. 25 — Alpha Resource Center’s Fourth Annual Plane Pull returns to Santa Barbara Airport
Oct. 29 — Cottage Health Hosts “Sneak Peek with Halloween Treats” at new Grotenhuis Pediatric Clinics
Oct. 28 — Ventura Community Foundation to present Giving Strategies for 2025 & Beyond. RSVP by Oct. 24
Oct. 29 — ‘California’s Energy Landscape’ topic of next Ventura County Taxpayers Association breakfast
Nov. 1 — Ventura Day of The Dead Bar Crawl – Día De Muertos
Celebrate Día de Muertos with an extraordinary Day of the Dead Bar Crawl on Saturday, November 1, 2025! This iconic event blends the vibrant traditions of Día de Muertos with the electric energy of the cities nightlife, creating an unforgettable cultural experience.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of this cherished Mexican tradition, honoring loved ones and celebrating life with colorful decor, lively music, and festive camaraderie. Wear your most creative Day of the Dead attire—think bold face paint, intricate skull designs, and dazzling costumes—and let the festivities begin!
Nov. 6 — Center for Nonprofit Leadership (CNL) at CLU to host 2025 Celebration of the Sector at the Museum of Ventura County
Nov. 7 — SBCC’s Scheinfeld Center continues AI Unlocked event series
Nov. 8, 9 — Ventura County Potters’ Guild presents 4th annual Ventura Pottery Market & Bowl of Thanks at Ventura Harbor Village
Nov. 8 — Make your voice a force for climate action at CEC’s Youth Climate Workshop
Nov. 13 — Ventura County Community Foundation to present Giving Strategies for 2025 & Beyond
Nov. 19 — Ventura County Taxpayers Association to present Breakfast Club program ‘Energy Storage’
Nov. 20 — VCFD and City of Moorpark Public Safety Expo
Nov. 20 — Ventura County Community Foundation’s (VCCF) — Special VCCF Virtual Lunch & Learn with the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund!
Nov. 28 — 75th annual Santa Paula holiday parade celebrates town’s history
Dec. 4 — Celebrate the Season Sustainability at Community Environmental Council (CEC)’s Green Holiday Market
Dec. 5 — Don’t Miss the Final Climate Fridays SB of 2025!
Dec. 5 through 7 — Studio Channel Islands to hold Holiday Artisan Market
Dec. 6 — Have Breakfast with Santa and shop for Christmas trees at Simi Valley Family YMCA
Dec. 6 — SBCC’s School of Extended Learning Arts & Crafts Fair a holiday marketplace for the entire community
Bilingual report — Dec. 6 — Ventura County Animal Services present Santa Paws
Santa Paws is returning to Ventura County Animal Services on Saturday, December 6th, 2025 from 10am-12pm at the Camarillo Shelter! Get your professional holiday portrait with Santa. Come in cozy pajamas, holiday sweaters, or whatever makes your photo merry and bright!
Dec. 9, more — CLU Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship announces upcoming events
Dec. 10 — Ventura County Taxpayers Association to present VTA Port District
Dec. 12 — People Helping People (PHP) — Join us! Community meeting for Buellton Garden Apartments
Dec. 18, 20 — The Oaks announces holiday lineup packed with events and family programming
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.
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.”
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
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.
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.