Jackson Muhirwe, chief information security officer and director of information assurance, is a seasoned higher education leader with over two decades of experience in information technology and security.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has opened its newest affordable housing development: People’s Place.
Located at 714-716 West Harvard Boulevard, People’s Place is the first affordable housing community in over 10 years in Santa Paula, and PSHH’s first new construction build in Ventura County. The development is made up of 69 one-, two- and three-bedroom units, serving households earning 30-60% of the area median income (AMI). 21 of these units are set aside for farmworker households making 30-45% of the AMI.
The library will feature books donated by the Ojai Valley Library Friends & Foundation (OVLFF) and join OVLFF’s internationally award-winning Little Free Libraries program which aims to increase access to books and promote literacy across America. The Community Lending Library will be installed at the entrance to Mesa and will be accessible to the public.
“Our Building & Safety Division is highly encouraging homeowners, contractors, and developers to “Go All-Electric” with new construction projects,” said Ruben Barrera, Building & Safety Director. “Using electric appliances and equipment rather than natural gas will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from your building’s heater, water heater, kitchen range, and other appliances and equipment. Going “All-Electric” better aligns our communities with the County’s greenhouse gas reduction strategies identified in our Climate Action Plan.”
VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announces $3,085,000 in new funds received for the development of additional affordable homes in Ventura County at a time when the need for housing affordability continues to rise sharply. The funds come from two investments, $1.5 million each, from the Weingart Foundation and Mechanics Bank. Additionally, three grants totaling $85,000 have been received from U.S. Bank, Citizens Bank, and an anonymous donor. Housing Trust Fund VC will put these new funds to work as the organization continues its commitment to help increase affordable housing options throughout Ventura County by leveraging public-private partnerships to provide low-cost, flexible loans early in the housing development cycle.
SANTA BARBARA — The Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit that supports classical music education and career development for Santa Barbara Area students, has added a new Junior Vocal Division to its signature annual competition.
The announcement came during a cocktail party and musical presentation hosted Oct. 4 at the home of PASF board members Noel Lucky and Jeff Ris. Leaders of the organization also unveiled the nonprofit’s latest impact report, which shows that PASF has awaxrded $915,000 in scholarships and grants since 2003 and that its educational grants reach thousands of students annually.
• Construction Start Date: October 14th, 2024
• Construction Duration 120 days
• Note that you may see some construction trucks coming to/from the Port serving this project. Staff will be working to manage any additional traffic, but please notify us if there are any issues to address.
DOD, CMTC AND CASCADE: CMTC & CASCADE CYBERSECURITY TRAINING SERIES: INCIDENT REPORTING AND POST-INCIDENT AUDITS
October 22 @ 10:00 am
With support from the DoD, CMTC and CASCADE offer a series of no-cost Cybersecurity Trainings for executives, operations and IT. Starting September 19th and ending November 5th, the trainings will be delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT. Each of the 14 trainings will focus on a specific cybersecurity topic.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
SANTA PAULA — The City of Santa Paula will begin a 2024/2025 Citywide Street Maintenance Project on Monday, October 21st, continuing efforts to maintain and upgrade key streets across the city. The project, expected to wrap up by Thanksgiving, is funded largely through Measure T, reflecting the City’s commitment to enhancing road conditions and infrastructure reliability.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Museum of Ventura County is excited to announce the addition of three talented staff members, enhancing its development and exhibition teams as the museum continues to fulfill its mission and vision for the future.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College reached a historic milestone with the provisional approval from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office for its Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Applied Professional Studies. Provisional approval means the program has cleared key initial requirements and is one step closer to being finalized.
This milestone represents a significant achievement in the college’s ongoing commitment to providing affordable and accessible higher education to Central Coast students. Hancock could begin offering the four-year degree to students as early as the fall of 2026 if final approval is granted.
October 19 —
HUD-Approved Homebuyer Workshop
Online
9:00am – 3:00pm
October 22 —
Personal Loan Program – Advancing Communities Orientation
Online and In-person
6:00pm – English
Programa de préstamo personales: orientación de Comunidades Avanzando
En línea y en persona
7:00pm – español
October 26 —
HUD-Approved Homebuyer Workshop
Bakersfield
10:00am – 3:00pm English
10:00am – 3:00pm Español
Dr. Jane Varner is a family medicine physician with more than two decades of experience and will also serve as Medical Director for all of the Cottage Primary Care locations. Formerly with the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group, Dr. Varner has demonstrated a deep commitment to patient-centered care. She completed her medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School and a residency in Family Medicine at the Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann University, where she served as Chief Resident.
Dear Panelists and Participants,
I want to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your participation in last night’s Home Insurance Town Hall. Your presence and insights were invaluable, and I believe the event truly made a difference in helping our community navigate the complexities of home insurance, especially in areas impacted by wildfire risk.
For those who were unable to attend or wish to revisit the discussion, the recording of the event is available at the following link: www.youtube.com/@vcd2super/streams. Please feel free to share this with others who might benefit.
OXNARD — Agromin, California’s largest organics waste recycler and manufacturer of earth-friendly soil products, has launched its “Healthy Soil Heroes,” ambassador program by partnering with five founding members. The founding members represent a diverse range of agricultural and community-focused businesses, including a native plant nursery, flower farm, community garden, agricultural education ambassadors and an edible garden design company.
“We created Healthy Soil Heroes as a way to recognize businesses and nonprofits that are promoting sustainable gardening, farming and landscaping practices,” says Bill Camarillo, Agromin’s CEO. “They are creating healthy food, beautifying landscapes and improving our planet.”
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Computer Basics program has been transforming lives by providing essential digital skills to over 450 participants to date. The program was launched by the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) to train and empower individuals underserved by current upskilling opportunities and who have little to no experience with computers, enabling them to confidently navigate the digital world, improve their job prospects and increase their earning potential. Now, EDC has created a Computer Basics Course Replication Toolkit that can be used by anyone to expand the impact of the course and get the critical curriculum to more people across the state.
“We are beyond proud of our Fleet Services team for earning these national accolades,” stated Chair of the Board Kelly Long. “Each award reflects not just technical achievements, but the team’s genuine commitment to making a difference—for the environment, for our community, and for future generations.”
“Jen has been an essential member of our team, consistently demonstrating her leadership in communication and public relations,” said City Manager Bill Ayub. “Her dedication to the City’s mission, combined with her innovative approach to public engagement, makes her the perfect fit for this role. I am confident that under her leadership, our communications will continue to thrive and effectively connect our community.”
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SANTA BARBARA — Residents of Santa Barbara County are invited to join Housing Santa Barbara Day 2024 on Saturday, October 19th, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at De La Guerra Plaza. This free annual event, hosted by 2nd Story Associates, the nonprofit affiliate of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB), aims to connect community members with local affordable housing nonprofits and service providers.
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in workshops covering a range of topics including Career Planning, Affordable Home Ownership, Housing Application Assistance, Down Payment Assistance, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), Financial Literacy and more. Additionally, there will be trolley tours showcasing affordable housing developments.
DOD, CMTC AND CASCADE: CMTC & CASCADE CYBERSECURITY TRAINING SERIES: HOW TO MANAGE CLOUD PROVIDERS
October 15 @ 10:00 am
With support from the DoD, CMTC and CASCADE offer a series of no-cost Cybersecurity Trainings for executives, operations and IT. Starting September 19th and ending November 5th, the trainings will be delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT. Each of the 14 trainings will focus on a specific cybersecurity topic.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
SOLVANG — Cottage Primary Care is pleased to share that providers Roger I. Lane, MD, FACP and Pablo Rojas, PA-C, have moved offices to Cottage Primary Care—Santa Ynez Valley, located at 1992 Old Mission Dr., Suite 140, in Solvang (in the New Frontiers shopping center). In addition, the practice welcomes Nicole Sheikholeslami, MD, to the team.
This move will bring the entire Cottage Primary Care—Santa Ynez Valley medical team together in one convenient location, providing more space and updated facilities. Dr. Lane, Pablo Rojas, PA-C and the practice’s newest physician Dr. Sheikholeslami, join Kathryn Brewer, MD and Janina Meissner-Frisk, DO, in offering comprehensive primary care services to patients at this office.
Dear Neighbors,
I hope this message finds you well! I am writing to share a reminder of the Home Insurance Town Hall that is taking place Tuesday, October 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Ventura County Fire Headquarters located at 2400 Conejo Spectrum Street in Newbury Park.
If you plan to attend please RSVP today by emailing SupervisorGorell@ventura.org. A live stream of the event will also be offered on my YouTube page at the following link: www.youtube.com/@vcd2super/streams. Simply visit the link at 6 pm to view the live event or watch the recording at a time that is convenient for you.
I am beyond excited to announce a big win for our climate and the Central Coast. Yesterday, Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) cut the ribbon on the Victory Pass and Arica Solar and Storage projects.
This project delivers 100 megawatts of solar and 25 megawatts of battery storage. That adds up to 5% of the total Central Coast electricity load. And on top of that, this project was completed ahead of schedule and created over 1,000 union jobs.
VENTURA — The County of Ventura has selected Esteban Rodriguez as Director for Ventura County Animal Services. The appointment follows an extensive recruitment process, which included both internal and external candidates. Rodriguez succeeds former director, Jackie Rose, who retired from the agency in May.
LOMPOC — As another spectacular summer fades into a crisp, cool fall, there’s no better time to explore the adventurous side of Lompoc! Get your adrenaline pumping with an exciting array of activities in and around the city. Start planning a trip packed with excitement, including skydiving, horse safaris, kitesurfing, and more!
VENTURA COUNTY — Founder of The Greater Contribution, Karon Wright, has been selected as an Honoree for the 2024 National Philanthropy Day Awards as Volunteer of the Year, Ventura County.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter NPD nomination committee will be presenting her with the honor at an awards ceremony Tuesday, October 29 at 5:00pm at the Santa Barbara Zoo (500 Ninos Drive, SB, CA 93103).
Over the past few years, the siren call of the gig economy has captivated the imagination and creativity of young adults. The lure of “being your own boss,” “setting your own hours,” and the promise of having the freedom to travel the world while you pursue your “dream job” is too much for many of them to resist.
For many dreamers coming of age, the enticement of immediate income and flexible work hours, along with the chance to skip college with all its debt obligation, is seductively appealing.
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Approximately 400 frontline healthcare workers at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo and Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton have ratified a new contract this week. The agreement includes a 14% wage increase over the next three years, a $23 minimum wage, and fully-paid family healthcare. Caregivers at these two hospitals are the only ones to have fully-paid family healthcare at Adventist-owned hospitals nationwide.
In a time when healthcare workers are leaving the industry for better pay and less stress, this contract at these Adventist hospitals marks a strong commitment to attracting and retaining caregivers in the San Luis Obispo communities that Adventist serves.
SOMIS — We are excited to announce the availability of farm worker apartments in Somis! Interested individuals are encouraged to apply by visiting www.somisranchapts.com and clicking on “Join the Interest List.” A member of our team will reach out to applicants in the order of their interest to conduct pre-eligibility screenings, schedule interviews, and provide a list of required items for the applicant interviews.
The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize National Women’s Small Business Month. In the most recent program year (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024), EDC supported over 1,700 women-owned small businesses and female/male-owned businesses. The EDC is dedicated to helping women achieve their business goals.
The EDC is proud to support the community by providing professional technical assistance in English and Spanish through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) has received two Awards of Merit from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) during the 2024 NAHRO National Conference. These distinguished awards recognize HACSB’s dedication to the local community, showcasing its innovative approaches to affordable housing and its impactful programs aimed at supporting youth.
While working at reefs in Moorea, French Polynesia, Kai Kopecky found that the network of coral skeletons left in place by bleaching events caused critical processes to break down, ultimately preventing reefs from recovering.
“The need is greater than ever to serve these at-risk populations,” said Ken Trigueiro, PSHH CEO & President. “To provide a stable and supportive place to live is the first step in moving the needle on homelessness and this project does just that. We are grateful that the City reached out to us to pursue a Homekey project with the intent of delivering permanent supportive housing and we look forward to the continued collaboration to bring these individuals home.”
VENTURA COUNTY — Over 15 farms, ranches and agricultural organizations will open their doors to the public for the 12th Annual Ventura County Farm Day, Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those who attend will experience a day of free agricultural activities and tours and learn about the origins of their food.
“We often don’t think about what it takes to grow, harvest and deliver produce to the market,” says Caitlin Paulus-Case, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) executive director. SEEAG is the nonprofit that hosts Ventura County Farm Day each year. “Hundreds of dedicated farm workers are behind every piece of fruit or vegetable we buy at the store.”
VENTURA — The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is seeking three county residents to serve as alternate members of its Hearing Board:
A medical professional with specialized skills, training or interest in environmental, community or occupational/toxicological medicine
A professional engineer licensed in California
A member of the public
An alternate serves when the regular member with the same expertise is not available. The alternate’s term aligns with that of the regular member. Regular members are appointed to three-year terms.
DOD, CMTC AND CASCADE: CMTC & CASCADE CYBERSECURITY TRAINING SERIES: NETWORK SECURITY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE
October 8 @ 10:00 am
With support from the DoD, CMTC and CASCADE offer a series of no-cost Cybersecurity Trainings for executives, operations and IT. Starting September 19th and ending November 5th, the trainings will be delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT. Each of the 14 trainings will focus on a specific cybersecurity topic.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s 60th Anniversary Gala raised $402,055 to support YMCA youth programs. The event was held outdoors on September 21 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village. It attracted over 300 guests and featured a reception, gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions and after-party. Actor Neal McDonough hosted the evening.
The gala looked back on the YMCA’s 60 years beginning when Western movie star Joel McCrea and his wife, Frances, donated part of their ranch between Thousand Oaks and Moorpark that would later become the Conejo Valley Family YMCA.
Uplift Central Coast — the six-county coalition led by REACH, the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership and Economic Development Collaborative — is pleased to announce the release of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Catalyst Predevelopment Phase of work.
This funding opportunity marks a significant step in supporting projects that will drive economic resilience, environmental sustainability and equitable growth in the region, in line with the California Jobs First initiative and the strategies developed as part of Uplift’s Regional Plan Part II Report.
VENTURA — The County of Ventura is excited to announce the upcoming paving project for the Ojai Valley Trail, set to commence this month. This essential project aims to enhance safety, accessibility, and overall enjoyment for the community and visitors alike.
To the City of San Luis Obispo for being an inspirational leader on this project, to the many partners who have helped make Calle Joaquin a reality, and to those who celebrated with us at yesterday’s groundbreaking, we thank you for moving the needle on affordable housing in our community.
Learn more about Calle Joaquin
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Uplift Central Coast is excited to announce the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Catalyst Predevelopment Phase is available for download on Uplift’s website (UpliftCentralCoast.org). This funding opportunity marks a significant step in supporting projects that will drive economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and equitable growth in the region, in line with the California Jobs First initiative and Uplift’s Regional Plan Part II Report. Submission deadline for the Letter of Intent is October 18, 2024, and the Application is due December 13, 2024.
The Catalyst Predevelopment Funding is designed to assist sector-specific, exploratory projects that align with regional strategies. “Our primary goals are to foster economic development, promote sustainability, and ensure that disinvested communities are among the primary beneficiaries of these efforts,” MBEP President & CEO Tahra Goraya said.
“This event is an invaluable opportunity for students to see firsthand how higher education can open doors to rewarding career pathways and transform their futures,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D.
“We are thrilled to welcome Paul to the VCCU family,” said Ed Sahakian, Chief Lending Officer of Ventura County Credit Union. “Paul’s extensive experience in lending, combined with his proven ability to design and implement performance-driven strategies, will enhance our services and benefit our members across the county.”
NEWBURY PARK — Financial Advisor Sarah Reznick has earned her financial advisor credentials through many years of professional experience and formal study, and through the “hard knocks” school of life.
A working mother who navigated a career change while raising young children, Reznick understands what it’s like to deal with life’s upheavals, and the challenges many people face when trying to build a strong financial foundation.
Now, after a twelve-year career as a financial advisor at a prestigious Los Angeles-area firm, Reznick has launched her own practice in Newbury Park called Sherfina Advisors. The practice, a subsidiary of U.S. financial services company Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, offers personalized financial advice and strategies to individuals, families and businesses. Reznick delights in helping her clients identify and make progress toward their goals, building their financial confidence along the way.
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) was ranked #22 overall out of 118 universities on the newly-released U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Colleges report, which features annual college rankings for the coming year. That’s up eight places from the 2024 report.
U.S. News & World Report ranks its colleges and universities according to region, so CSUCI’s high marks were in the report’s Regional Universities (West) category. The overall high ranking was the result of multiple high scores across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
One indicator was the Social Mobility category, where CSUCI was ranked 5th, up from the 2024 ranking of 7th. Social mobility is how well a university retains and graduates students with high financial need. CSUCI also came in 12th in the Top Public Schools category, up from 14th in the 2024 rankings.
Check your mailbox, Vote-by-Mail ballots and voting materials will be reaching Santa Barbara County community members in the next few weeks.
PORT HUENEME — Founded in 1906, The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) represents public finance officials all throughout the United States and Canada who aim to advance excellence in public finance. For the fourteenth consecutive year, the Port of Hueneme…
Dear Friends, Once again, we find ourselves in a Kennel Capacity Crisis. We are at 121% dog kennel capacity with 20-30 more animals arriving daily. To free much-needed kennel space we are holding a FEE-WAIVED* dog adoption promotion until…
SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture Commission has voted unanimously to recognize Celesta M. Billeci, the Miller McCune Executive Director of UCSB Arts & Lectures, with the 2024 County of Santa Barbara Leadership in Arts Award.
